S.  S.  LIBRARY.  I 


I 


I 


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FLORA  AND  CHRISTMAS     Pago  99. 


BY 


BOSTON: 
E.  P.  BUTTON  AND  COMPANY. 
NEW  YORK  :  HUllD  AND  HOUGHTON. 
1865. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congrt<is,  m  the  year  1863,  by 
E.  P  DurroN  A^D  CoMPA^T, 
in  the  Clerk's  OCBce  of  the  District  Court  f  f  th  ;  District  of  Massachtt 
setts. 


BIVERSID1S,  CAMBRIDGE: 
STEREOTYPED   AND  PRINTED  BY  H.  0.  HOUGHTON. 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 
CHAPTER  1. 


IGHTY  cole,  dis  yer  Norf  ! 
Spex  dis  nigger  freeze  to  def, 
one  dese  days  !  Ki  !  dem 
toes  down  dar  don'  know 
deyself  apart !  Stan'  roun'  I 
Hurry  up  !  Finish  dis  yer  fodderin',  spry^ 
an'  den  I'se  gwine  in  t'  see  'f  dat  tea-kittle 
done  bile  yet.  Missy  Greene  say,  *  Never 
you  min'  de  tea-kittle ;  he  bile  fas'  enuf ; ' 
but  tell'^ow,  dis  nigger  tink  a  heap  of  dat 
tin  kittle,  an'  de  oder  kittles  an'-  pots,  an' 
de  big  ole  cookin'-stove,  dis  cole  wedder  . 
'Pears  like  dis  chile  likes  cookin'  better  'n 
fodderin*,  cole  mornins." 

The  only  hearers  of  these  shivering  remarks 
were  Farmer  Greene's  "  critters,"  —  six  cows, 
two  yoke  of  oxen,  and  "  the  old  mare."  These 


4 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


all  opened  their  mouths,  though  not  by  way 
of  reply  :  they  munched  their  hay  and  said 
nothing. 

It  was  a  clear,  cold  December  morning 
just  after  sunrise  ;  the  air  crackling  with 
frost,  the  ground  frozen  hard,  the  ice  an 
inch  thick  in  the  watering -trough, —  the 
coldest  morning,  thus  far,  of  the  season. 
"  Dis  nigger,"  as  he  called  himself,  had  been 
"  raised "  in  the  sunny  South,  and  this  was 
liis  first  experience  of  Jack  Frost's  power. 
For  weeks  past  the  Weather  had  been  get- 
ting colder  and  colder  ;  the  leaves  had  fallen, 
the  birds  had  flown,  there  was  no  more  of 
growth  or  greenness  ;  but  they  told  the  poor 
fellow  that  he  had  n't  seen  the  worst  of  it 
yet  :  "  Wait  till  the  snow  comes  ! "  "  Ki  ! 
Coler  'n  dis  ?  'n  de  snow  all  ober  de  fence  ? 
Den  dis  chile  die  'fore  Chris'mas  !  sure  ! " 

Abijah  Greene  lived  in  comfort  among 
the  "  Cumberland  hills."  That 's  some- 
where within  the  bounds  of  a  State  so 
small  that  when  the  governor  of  it  wants 
to  call  a  General  Assembly,  he  goes  to  hia 
front   door   and   whistles,  —  so  they  say. 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


5 


"  Little  Rhody  "  is  the  playful  and  patron- 
izing name  that  her  sister  States  often  give 
her;  but  when  she  speaks  for  herself,  offi-' 
cially,  she  stands  up  straight  in  any  com- 
pany, and  says,  "  State  of  Rhode  Island 
AND  Providence  Plantations  " ;  and  when 
she  is  twitted  about  her  size,  she  sometimes 
quotes  Proverbs  xxx.  24. 

Mrs.  Abijah  Greene  was  as  thrifty  and 
tidy  a  farmer's  wife  as  you  could  find.  / 
Some  folks  said  she  managed  'Bijah  and 
the  farm  too.  She  did  like  to  see  things 
kept  straight,  and  she  had  a  quick  tongue ; 
but  she  had  a  kind  heart  for  all  that.  She 
was  one  of  those  women  of  whom  they  say, 
sometimes,  "  Lilcky  she  did  n't  happen  to  be 
an  old  maid."  A  good  wife,  though,  and  a 
good  mother  and  a  good  neighbor,  was  she 
whom  her  husband  called  "  Wealthy,"  and 
her  neighbors  "  Miss  'Bijah,"  and  her  chil- 
dren "  Ma."     Children  she  had  three  :  — 

I.  Captain  Abijah  Greene,  Jr.,  of  the  103d 
R.  1.  H.  A.,  young,  but  manly,  and  worthy 
of  holding  a  commission  signed  "  Wm. 
Sprague";  having  his  father's  strength  and 
his  mother's  keenness,  with  a  dash  and  dar- 


6 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


ing  of  his  own.  Returning  from  Hilton  Head 
on  leave  of  absence,  he  brought  home  with 
him  "  dis  nigger,"  whom  he  left  to  shiver  on 
the  Cumberland  hills.  We  may  hear  more,  hy 
and  by,  of  Captain  Greene.  His  mother  shall 
have  full  right  to  be  proud  of  her  first-born. 

n.  "Dave,"  as  the  boys  all  called  him, — 
and  his  father  liked  the  abbreviation  best  ; 
but  his  mother  said  David,  and  sometimes 
"  You  David,"  for  he  was  a  mischievous  little 
chap,  and  often  gave  edge  to  Ma's  tongue. 
Dave  w^as  spending  his  fourteenth  winter 
away  at  school.  Four  miles  from  the  par- 
ticular "hill"  that  'Bijah  Greene's  house 
stood  on  was  a  village,  which  contained 
several  cotton-mills  and  an  ^cellent  school, 
—  a  high-school,  worthy  of  the  name.  The 
teacher's  name  was  Rose  :  he  will  blossom 
out  in  a  chapter  or  two.  Dave  boarded  at 
the  village  (suppose  we  call  it  Rosedale, 
out  of  compliment  to  the  teacher  :  I  don't 
want  to  tell  the  real  name,  for  reasons  of 
my  own)  during  the  week,  but  on  Friday 
afternoon,  if  the  v^agon  could  n't  be  sent  for  • 
him,  he  walked  home,  and  staid  till  Monday 
morning. 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  7 

III.  "  Daisy,"  which  was  n't  her  true  name, 
but  everybody  called  her  so.  Her  name 
was  Margaret.  Mrs.  Greene's  sister  Pa- 
tience lived  in  New  York;  and  when  Daisy 
was  born,  she  wrote,  "  Don't  you  call  that 
child  '  Wealthy,'  or  '  Patience,'  or  any  such 
outlandish  name.  Call  her  '  Margaret,'  and 
pet-name  her  *  Daisy,'  and  I  '11  put  seventy- 
five  dollars  in  the  savings-bank  to  buy  her 
a  silver  tea-set  when  she  gets  married." 
And  so  Daisy  she  was  called ;  and  a  sweet, 
pretty,  little  flower-like  child  was  she,  four 
years  old  when  our  story  begins.  No  one 
ever  heard  Mrs.  Greene  speak  sharply  to 
Daisy,  not  even  when  she  w^as  naughty, — 
which  was  only  once  in  a  while  ;  and  her 
father,  —  he  ^worshipped  her. 

As  good  a  time  this  as  any  to  say  that 
two  little  grave-stones,  in  the  family  burying- 
ground  back  of  the  barn,  bore  the  names  of 
two  other  children  of  Abijah  and  Wealthy 
Greene  ;  and  that  in  the  family  Bible  a 
death  followed  every  birth  but  Daisy's. 

In  cataloguing  the  Greenes,  we  must  not 
leave  out  two  members  of  the  family,  neither 
of  them  Greene  though,  for  one  was  black 


8  CONTRABAND  CHRISTSIAS. 

and  the  other  yellow.  Our  friend  whose 
toes  didn't  know  themselves  apart,  on  the 
first  page,  was  very  black  indeed,  and  yet, 
though  his  nose  was  flat  and  his  lips  large 
and  his  hair  close-curled,  his  face  was  a 
pleasant  one  to  look  at,  for  it  was  radiant 
with  good-nature  and  intelligence.  It  was 
toward  the  last  of  August  when  he  arrived 
with  the  captain,  and  until  the  frosts  came 
he  had  been  active  and  willing  and  helpful 
about  the  farm,  but  "  dis  cole  wedder"  curled 
him  up  like  a  leaf.  He  had  never  yet  seen 
snow  enough  on  the  ground  to  make  a  snow- 
ball of ;  had  never  seen  ice  thicker  than 
pasteboard  ;  and  often  whole  winters  had 
passed,  at  his  southern  home,  without  either 
of  these  phenomena.  No  wonder  he  was 
fond  of  the  cooking-stove. 

The  captain  had  introduced  him  as 
"  Chrismus." 

"  What  made  them  call  you  that  name  ?  " 
asked  Mrs.  Greene. 

"'Cause  I  was  a  Chris'mas  present.  Missy. 
Ole  Massa  King  had  a  little  new  nigger, 
Chris'mas-day,  twenty  years  ago,  an'  so  dey 
caU  'im*  Chrismus.''^ 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


9 


"  His  full  name,  Ma,"  said  Captain  Abijah, 
"is  Christmas  D.  King." 

«  What  does  the  '  D '  stand  for  ?  "  asked 
Dave,  —  not  so  "  smart "  as  he  was  inquis- 
itive. 

"  You  '11  find  out,  some  day  or  other,"  re- 
plied his  big  brother. 

"  Oh,  Day  !  Day  !  Christmas  Day  King ! 
I've  got  it!"  said  Dave. 

The  yellow  member  of  the  family  was 
"  Bose."  "  Eose  Greene,  Cumberland,"  was 
on  his  collar.  So^e  boys  that  came  to  steal 
water-melons  from  Bije  Greene's  "  patch " 
were  heard  to  say,  that  the  reason  why  they 
came  away  without  any  was  "  'cause  that 
big  yailar  dog  was  'round."  Bose  was  a 
terror  to  evil-doers,  but  was  clever  enough 
to  honest  strangers.  A  good  judge  of  char- 
acter was  B.  Greene.  A  Yankee  pedler 
might  walk  right  in  from  the  gate,  and  Bose 
would  only  walk  around  from  his  kennel 
and  keep  his  eyes  on  the  man  till  the  door 
was  opened  ;  but  let  a  little  German  Jew 
come  along  with  his  pack  on  his  back,  and 
his  little  mahogany  box  in  his  hand,  and 
Bose  would   welcome  him  with  a  teethy 


10  CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


smile,  and  very  distinctly  utter  remarks  in 
the  canine  language. 

When  Chrismus  came  into  the  family,  Bose 
smelled  at  the  calves  of  his  legs  very  suspi- 
ciously at  first.  Neither  Yankee  nor  Dutch- 
man, thought  he.  What  is  it  ?  But  it  was 
not  long  before  the  black  and  yellow  Greenes 
became  very  good  friends,  —  slept  together, 
lately,  till  Mrs.  Greene  found  it  out. 

"  Chrismus,  how  came  Bose's  hairs  on 
your  '  spread '  ?  " 

"  Spex  he  lef '  'em  dar,  Missy." 

"  Have  you  taken  that  dog  into  the  house 
to  sleep  with  you  ?  Bose  ought  to  have 
known  better,  any  how." 

"  I'se  'feard  he  catch  cole.  Missy,  out  in  he 
own  house,  dese  cole  night,  an'  I  ax  'im  in, 
an'  he  was  'greeable,  an'  I  was  'greeable  —  " 

"  Well,  well  ;  / 'm  not  *  'greeable.'  1 
should  n't  think  you 'd  want  a  dog  to  sleep 
with  you." 

^'Toes  cole.  Missy."- 

"  *  Toes  cold '  ?  and  three  comforters  on 
the  bed  ? " 

"  Bose  comforter  'n  all  free.  Missy." 

"  Well,  there  now ;  you  hear  ?     I  ain't 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


11 


agoing  to  have  dog's  hairs  all  over  my  spread  ; 
so  you  can  go  and  sleep  with  Bose,  if  you 
want  to,  but  Bose  can't  come  and  sleep  with 
you  ;  another  comforter  you  can  have,  but 
no  more  Bose." 

And  so  1  have  told  you  all  about  the 
Greene  family. 


CHAPTER  II. 

OSEDALE  is  a  factory  vU- 
lage.  Bales  of  cotton  come 
here,  and  go  away  "  sheetings  " 
and  "  shirtings,"  —  after  much 
tribulation  of  carding  and  spin- 
ning and  weaving  and  bleaching  and  folding 
and  packing.  Fifteen  hundred  of  us  live 
peaceably  together  here  under  the  just  super- 
intendency  of  an  honest  man, —  Mr.  Walpole. 
We  have  a  church  and  a  meeting-house ;  a 
high-school,  over  which  floats  24  by  10  of 
stars  and  stripes  ;  a  public  library,  a  post- 
office,  and  three  or  four  stores ;  —  and  think 
ourselves  pretty  well  off  for  "  institutions." 

Dave  Greene  likes  Mr.  Rose  as  a  teacher 
'  first-rate,  only  he  rubs  the  algebra  into  a 
feller  a  little  too  hard."  Dave  is  just  be- 
ginning to  climb  this  "  sublime  "  branch  of 
science,  and  considers  "negative  quantities" 
knotty.    He  has  experienced  discipline,  also. 


CONTEABAND  CHRISTMAS.  13 

in  the  matter  of  being  caught  at  passing  a 
note  towards  pretty  Mary  Martin.  Commu- 
nication in  school-hours  having  been  abso- 
lutely forbidden,  the  note  was  confiscated, 
and,  as  a  means  of  punishment  and  preven- 
tion, it  was  read  aloud  to  the  scholars,  —  the 
young  lady's  name,  however,  omitted :  — 

"  Deerest  Mary, 

Ego  Amo  and  i  wish  youd  give 
me  a  lock  of  yure  hare, 

Forever  yur«6 

^        David  Greene." 

No  more  notes  sent  after  that,  and  a  whole- 
some dread  inspired  of  Mr.  Rose's  discipli- 
nary appliances.  But  don't  conclude  that 
Dave  was  a  bad  boy  or  a  dull  scholar.  Ear- 
lier teachers,  in  the  "  deestric'  "  school  near 
home,  had  let  him  shirk  his  spelling-lessons 
and  do  sums  by  unexplained  rules  ;  so  that  he 
came  to  Mr.  Rose  with  unformed  scholastic 
habits,  with  not  much  love  for  learning,  and 
with  an  unthorough  way  of  doing  and  study- 
ing. Yet  he  was  old  enough  to  begin  to  ap- 
preciate his  deficiencies,  comparing  himself 
with  others  of  his  own  age,  and  he  knew  in 


14 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


his  heart  that  Mr.  Rose  was  none  too  strict. 
One  study,  Latin,  which  he  was  beginning 
this  term,  he  really  enjoyed  ;  especially  the 
recitations,  when,  sitting  next  to  his  "  deerest 
Mary,"  he  could  manage  sometimes  to  touch 
elbows  with  her.  He  knew  "  amo "  as  an 
"  active,  transitive  verb "  ;  "  active,"  as  ex- 
pressing action  ;  "  transitive,"  as  having  an 
object.  He  was  fond  of  making  up  sen- 
tences from  his  little  stock  of  nouns  and 
pronouns,  verbs  and  adjectives.  He  always 
recited  well-leirned  lessons :  no  one  better, 
except  the  bright-eyed  Mary.  Some  would 
say  that  it  was  absurd  for  him  to  be  study- 
ing Latin,  while  he  could  not  write  English 
correctly ;  but  Mr.  Rose's  object  was  to  get 
him  interested  in  some  study,  it  did  not 
matter  so  much  at  present  what  study. 

Dave  boarded  at  his  cousin's,  Olney 
Greene's,  who  kept  "  the  corner-store,"  and 
took  good  care  of  him,  Friday  night, 
though,  never  came  too  soon.  Usually  he 
found  the  old  mare  hitched  in  front  of  the 
store  after  school,  Bose  standing  on  the  seat 
smiling  with  his  tail,  and  his  father  mak- 
ing purchases  of  various  groceries  at  the 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  15 


counter  within.  Sometimes  his  mother  came 
for  him,  when  yards  were  wanted,  as  well 
as  pounds.  Sometimes,  of  late,  Chrismus 
drove  down,  —  but  rather  against  his  will  ; 
for  the  Irish  boys  of  the  village  called  him 
"  naygur,"  and  asked  him  what  he  was 
worth.  "  I 'm  a  brack  man,  dat 's  a  fac',"  he 
would  say ;  "  but  I  don't  want  dem  white 
trash  trowin'  names  at  me." 

Good  times  at  home  over  Sunday,  for 
Dave  :  mince-pies  and  "  punkin  "-  pies  and 
"jell'- cake"  and  custards;  —  his  mother 
crowded  seven  days'  coddling  into  two. 
His  father,  also,  liked  to  hear  him  talk  about 
his  books. 

"  What 's  the  Latin  for  house,  Dave  ?  ". 
"  DomusP 

"  David,  say  ^  Sir '  to  your  father." 

"  DomuSf  sir  ;  and  Mr.  Rose  says  we  get 
our  English  word  dome  from  domus.^^ 

"  Why,  I  thought  they  called  Latin  a 
dead  language.  'Ta'n't  spoken  nowhere 
now,  is  it  ?  " 

"  No,  sir ;  but  Mr.  Rose  says  that  a  great 
many  of  our  words  come  from  the  Latin, — 
are  derived  from  it,  somehow." 


16 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


"  Well,  let 's  see,  Dave  ;  let 's  try  some. 
What 's  book  ? 
"  Liber:' 
"  *  Sir,'  David  ! " 

"  Liber,  sir ;  and  we  get  liberary  from 
that,  —  a  place  to  keep  books  in." 

"  '  Liberary '  ?  We  used  to  spell  that 
li'bra-ry  when  /  went  to  school.  You 
better  not  feel  above  your  spellin'-book  yet 
awhile,  I  guess." 

"  Mr.  Rose  makes  us  spell  every  day, 
father,  and  he  says  I'm  improving." 

"  Well,  what 's  —  Base,  in  Latin  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  ;  guess  they  did  n't  have 
that  name  in  Rome.  But  they  had  dogs. 
Canus,  —  no,  canis  is  the  Latin  for  dog." 

"  I  don't  see  what  English  word  there  is 
from  that  ;  do  you  ?  " 

"  Could  n't  be  cane,  could  it,  father  ?  Canes 
don't  have  anything  to  do  with  dogs  "  — 

"'Cep'  when  dey  hit  um!" 

"  Hallo,  Chrismus  !  you  j'inin'  in  ?  Now, 
Dave,  give  us  the  Latin  for  Chrismus  ;  can 
you  ?  " 

"  I  wish  I 'd  brought  my  book  home  with 
me  ;  there 's  a  word  I  saw  the  other  day  that 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  17 


made  me  think  of  Chrismus ;  I  can't  think 
of  it  now.  Yes,  I  can  !  It 's  niger^  and  it 
means  black,  I  guess  they  get  nigger  from 
niger,  and  I  thought  when  I  found  it  that 
all  that  nigger  meant  was  only  black  manP 

"  'T  a'n't  all  dey  rmean^  Mass'  Dave,  when 
dey  call  us  nigger.  Ole  —  black  —  nigger 
dey  say,  some  folks,  an'  dey 'm  t'inkin'  o' 
somet'in'  hard  'gin  us.  Doun  in  ole  Car'- 
lina  I  seen  um  say  dem  words  wid  a  kick  o' 
de  boot,  or  a  blow  ob  a  stick,  or  anyt'ing 
handy ;  an'  dem  poor,  mis'able  trash  doun 
in  de  village,  hollerin'  out  *  naygur,'  '  naygur,' 
—  reckon  dey  neber  study  Latin." 

"  When  they  call  you  names  again,"  (Mrs. 
Greene  speaks  up  sharply,)  "you  just  say, 
'  Sake  'em,  Bose  ! '  I  would  n't  mind  the 
dog's  tearing  the  little  rascals'  trousers  once." 

"  Ma,  I 'm  hungry.  Let 's  have  some  of 
that  mince-pie.*  You  beat  everybody  on 
mince-pies." 

"  Mijice-pie !  and  you  agoing  to  bed  ! 
No  ;  if  you  're  hungry,  you  can  go  and  get 
some  bread  and  butter,  unless  you  want 
to  see  your  gran'mother"  — 

"  Yes,  Dave,  your  venerable  gran' ma,  com- 

2 


18 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


ing  in  with  a  big  grin'stone  in  her  arms  and 
laying  it  on  top  of  you,  in  the  middle  of  the 
night." 

"  Ki,  Mass'  Dave  !  Better  neber  hah  no 
gran'mudder,  like  dis  chile." 

"  Come,  off  to  bed,  all  of  you"  (Mrs.  G.)  ; 
"  it 's  after  nine  o'clock,  and  to-morrow 's 
Sunday,  and  cousin  Olney  and  his  wife 
are  coming,  and  I  want  to  make  the  chicken- 
pie  early." 

"  And  I 've  promised  "  (Dave)  "  to  put  up 
a  swing  for  Daisy  in  the  barn  ;  and  Bose  and 
I  have  agreed  to  go  to  that  woodchuck's  hole 
after  dinner.  Just  a  little  piece,  ma,  so 's  to 
have  a  good  taste  in  my  mouth,  going  to 
sleep." 

"  Piece  of  what  ?  —  woodchuck  ?  You 
can't  have  any  mince-pie  :  that 's  settled  !  " 


CHAPTER  in. 


T  may  sound  strangely  to  some 
of  my  readers,  these  family  prep- 
arations for  keeping  Sunday. 
Mrs.  Greene  expected  "  com- 
pany," and  thought  of  nothing 
else  than  their  hospitable  entertainment. 
David  planned  to  please  his  little  sister,  and 
then,  after  a  good  dinner,  to  please  himself 
and  Bose  at  digging  out  a  woodchuck.  Far- 
*mer  Greene,  although  he  had  not  mentioned 
his  intentions,  had  made  arrangements  to 
ride  over  to  a  neighbor's,  some  miles  away, 
with  cousin  Olney,  and  buy  that  yoke  of 
steers  he  had  heard  were  for  sale,  if  he  could 
get  them  at  a  fair  price. 

All  these  plans  were,  in  fact,  carried  into 
execution.  At  three  o'clock,  next  day, 
Mrs.  Greene  and  cousin  Olney's  wife  were 
knitting  and  gossiping  in  the  front-room ; 
Daisy  was  swinging  in  the  barn  ;  Dave  and 


20 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


Bose  were  causing  great  anxiety  to  a  family 
of  woodchucks  ;  and  the  two  adult  male 
Greenes  were  dickering  and  whittling  over 
the  steers  with  Farmer  Jenks.  These  were 
honest,  kind-hearted  people,  —  the  Greenes 
and  their  neighbors ;  good,  as  the  world  es- 
timates goodness,  and  good  —  that  is,  good 
enough  —  in  their  own  esteem ;  and  yet  the 
Fourth  Commandment  was  unknown,  or,  if 
known,  disregarded  among  them.  Sunday  ? 
—  the  day  to  clean  up,  to  go  visiting,  or  to  re- 
ceive visits,  to  get  the  horse  shod  or  the  tire 
set,  to  make  neighborly  bargains,  to  "  fix  up  " 
about  the  homestead,  mend  fences,  chop 
wood,  read  the  papers ;  in  haying-time  and 
harvesting,  to  make  the  most  of  Sunday  sun- 
shine, but  generally  at  other  seasons,  to  let 
the  cattle  rest,  —  this  is  the  Sunday  o^  many 
a  farmer  among  the  "  Providence  Planta- 
tions." 

A  family  Bible  lay  on  the  stand  between 
the  two  front  windows  of  Mrs.  Greene's  par- 
lor, and  it  had  been  used  at  times.  The 
marriage  of  Abijah  Greene  and  Wealthy 
Simmons  was  duly  recorded  in  the  Record, 
with  births  and  deaths,  dates  and  ages.  A 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


21 


counterfeit  bank-bill  served  as  a  book-mark 
at  Revelations  xiv.  13,  the  text  from  which 
the  minister  had  spoken,  when  he  came  to 
"  preach  the  funeral "  for  good  old  Gran'ma 
Greene,  —  a  Universalist  minister  from  Prov- 
idence ;  and  a  narrow  blue  ribbon,  worn  by 
the  baby  that  died  near  twenty  years  ago, 
was  fading  among  "  the  words  of  the  Gospel, 
written  by  Saint  Mark,  in  the  tenth  chapter, 
at  the  thirteenth  verse."  Had  the  weeping 
mother  found  comfort  from  the  blessed  words 
— "  Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto 
me,  and  forbid  them  not,  for  of  such  is  the 
kingdom  of  heaven "  ?  It  may  have  been  ; 
and  yet  her  living  children  had  no  memories 
of  her  ever  having  opened  the  holy  book  for 
them,  or  for  herself. 

The  music  of  church-bells,  borne  on  south- 
erly winds,  echoed  often  among  the  Cumber- 
land hills,  calling  to  prayer  or  praise  on  the 
day  the  Lord  hath  made  ;  but  there  were  few 
there  who  knew  the  sounds  apart  of  church- 
bells  and  mill-bells,  or  who  ever  gave  heed  to 
one  more  than  to  the  other.  Here  and  there, 
on  "  First-Day  "  morning,  some  fading  mem- 
ber of  the  fading  sect  of  "  Friends  "  might 


22 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


be  seen  on  his  way  to  "  meeting  "  ;  here  and 
there  a  believer  in  Universalis m  and  Mr. 
Galden,  driving  to  Woonsocket  to  hear  the 
comforting  eloquence  of  that  favorite  preach- 
er ;  here  and  there  a  Baptist,  firm  in  the  faith, 
following  the  narrow  path  towards  heaven, 
marked  out  by  Roger  Williams;  here  and 
there  a  Churchman,  though  but  very  few  of 
these,  seeking  "  thy  gates,  O  Zion "  :  but 
"  pikes  "  and  cross-roads,  all  over  the  State, 
were  and  are  well-travelled  on  Sunday  by 
family  parties,  going  and  coming  to  and  from 
their  pleasant  visitings  ;  by  young  men  and 
maidens,  dashing  along  merrily  behind  fast- 
driven  horses  ;  by  farmers  often,  getting  their 
hay  to  market  for  an  early  Monday  morning  ; 
by  children  on  their  way  to  "  huckleberry  " 
pastures  or  chestnut  groves.  I  know  not  how 
to  account  for  this  state  of  things  exactly. 
I  am  shocked  when  our  Bishop  says,  "  there 
are  heathen  regions  within  the  limits  of  this 
diocese  :  districts  that  have  been  first  burnt 
over  by  the  fires  of  fanaticism,  and  then 
frozen  into  a  hard  and  rigid  infidelity."  Have 
Baptists  and  Quakers  and  Universalists,  who 
have  had  such  influence  and  control  here  in 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  23 

years  past,  sowed  good  seed  in  vain,  or  bad 
seed,  to  spring  up  into  such  harvest  as  this  ? 

But  no  one  ever  saw  'Bijah  Greene's  hay- 
cart  on  its  way  to  market  on  Sunday,  nor 
did  any  one  ever  hear  the  splash  of  Mrs. 
Greene's  churn-dasher  on  the  day  of  rest. 
Sometimes,  when  haycocks  were  "  heating," 
or  bad  weather  threatened  the  waiting 
"  shocks "  of  grain,  every  available  muscle 
on  the  farm  was  stretched  at  hard  work  all 
day  on  Sunday  ;  but  usually  the  day  was 
kept  sacred  to  rest  and  amusement,  —  such 
light  and  easy  "  chores "  as  gardening  and 
fence-mending,  or  trotting  the  old  mare  down 
to  the  blacksmith's  shop,  coming  under  the 
head  of  either  or  both,  while  visiting  and  be- 
ing visited  were  regarded  as  proper  and  pleas- 
ing occupations  for  the  day.  There  were  tra- 
ditions of  godliness  in  the  family.  Abijah's 
father  had  come  of  Quaker  stock  ;  his  mother 
had  been  converted,  late  in  life,  to  Univer- 
salism.  Visiting  relations  at  Woonsocket,  she 
had  filled  what  long  had  been  a  void  in  her 
soul,  with  the  charming  and  comforting  doc- 
trines of  that  easiest  of  faiths.  Mrs.  Greene  — 
the  present — had  been  brought  up  among 


24  CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 

Baptists.  When  a  child  of  fifteen,  she  had 
been  caught  up  in  the  swirl  of  an  old-fashioned 
revival,  and  had  been  dipped  deep  in  Seekonk 
River ;  the  result  of  which  spiritual  experience 
being  evident  thereafter  in  a  silent  reserve 
and  indifference  toward  every  kind  of  religion. 
The  Baptist  elder,"  within  whose  district 
she  lived,  and  who  professed  to  have  a  certain 
claim  upon  her,  was  always  welcomed  kindly 
when  he  called,  and  she  paid  her  annual 
tribute  of  turkey  at  Thanksgiving ;  but 
whenever  the  good  man  touched  in  conver- 
sation upon  the  matter  of  her  "  experience," 
he  found  her  coldly  disinclined  to  talk  with 
him.  Once  only,  however,  she  burst  out 
upon  him, — 

"  Elder,  there  are  two  states,  I  used  to 
hear :  the  state  of  grace  and  the  state  of 
wrath.    Is  that  it  ?  " 

"  Yes,  certainly  ;  and  you  —  " 

"  Never  mind  me  !  —  And  baptism  is  the 
seal  of  the  covenant,  a'n't  it  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  of  course." 

"  And  nobody  can  escape  from  wrath  to 
grace  without  being  baptized  ?    Nobody  ?  " 
"  No.     *  Believe  and  be  baptized  *  is  the 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  25 


condition  of  salvation.  But  why  do  you 
ask  these  questions,  sister  Greene  ?  " 

"  It 's  no  matter,  sir.  —  Yes !  I  should  like 
to  ask,  but  you  can't  tell  me,  —  where  's  that 
little  baby  of  mine,  that  died  almost  as  soon 
as  he  smiled  ?  And  that  other  one  —  But 
never  mind,  never  mind !  If  Christ  ever 
died.  Elder,  my  children  are  not  lost." 

The  elder  went  away  thoughtful.  He  had 
children  of  his  own.  He  waited  a  year  be- 
fore he  called  again,  and  he  never  addressed 
her  as  "  sister  "  any  more. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


AISY,  let  that  pie-crust  be  !  — 
What  a  midget  that  child  is! 
Mischief,  mischief,  mischief, 
from  morning  to  night !  I 
suppose  I  ought  to  scold  her, 
and  whip  her,  and  shut  her  up  ;  —  that 's  the 
way  most  folks  do,  but  /  can't.  If  she  was 
sulky,  now,  and  cross-grained,  and  spunky, 
like  that  child  of  S'phia's  ;  —  but  how  can  I 
scold  and  look  cross  when  she  comes  to  me 
all  smiles,  and  puts  up  herHittle  mouth  to  be 
kissed?  —  the  darling!  There,  now,  Daisy, 
do  come  away  from  that  table !  Aunt 
S'phia's  coming  to-day,  and  ma's  going  to 
make  a  nice  chicken-pie,  and  Daisy  shall 
have  a  wish-bone  if  she'll  go  out  and  play 
with  Bose  and  the  turkeys.  Get  your  hood 
on  and  your  shawl  ;  there 's  a  good  daugh- 
ter." 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  27 


Presently,  pattering  back  come  the  little 
feet,  and  — 

Ma  !  Chrismus  says  he  goin'  to  church  ; 
may  /  go  ?  " 

"  Goin'  to  church  ?  What  does  he 
mean  ?  " 

"  We  hear  the  bells  ring,  ma, — the  Rosedale 
bells,  —  an'  Chrismus  says  he 's  goin'  up  on 
High  Hill  to  see  the  church.    May  I  go  ?  " 

"  Why,  yes ;  I  guess  so.  That  '11  be  a 
good  way  to  get  rid  of  you.  Tell  Chrismus 
I  want  him. —  Chrismus,  you  mind  and  take 
good  care  of  her ;  and  come  back  as  soon  as 
you  see  the  towel  out  of  the  window." 

"  Yes 'm,  missy." 

"  But  what  do  you  want  to  go  off  by  your- 
self so  for,  Sundays  ?  Are  you  homesick, 
Chrismus?  —  want  to  see  your  friends?  1 
s'pose  so  ;  should  n't  wonder.  He 's  tender- 
hearted, that  fellow,  if  he  is  black-skinned  !  " 

She  talked  to  vacancy;  for,  without  hav- 
ing heard  her  question,  Chrismus  had  started 
off,  with  Daisy  clinging  to  one  hand  and 
Bose  leaping  up  to  lick  the  other,  and  was 
already  behind  the  barn,  out  of  sight,  on  his 
way  to  church. 


28  CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


Such  a  beautiful  day !  December  had 
unbuttoned  his  overcoat,  and  he  said  to  him- 
self, — 

"  I  believe  I 'm  about  ready.  I 've  scat- 
tered the  leaves  everywhere,  as  impartially 
as  I  can.  Little  Violet  is  tucked  in  nicely 
under  her  brown  blankets,  and  all  the  flowers 
and  grasses  are  cuddled  away  warmly  for 
their  long  nap.  These  big  trees  can  keep 
warm  with  exercise,  when  the  north-winds 
blow.  Squirrels,  are  you  sure  you  have 
found  all  the  nuts  you  want  ?  Chickadees, 
have  you  all  put  on  your  winter  jackets  ? 
Come,  then,  let 's  have  one  more  quiet,  com- 
fortable, Octoberish  Sunday  ;  to-morrow  I  '11 
button  up  again  and  call  Boreas." 

High  Hill  is  only  a  short  walk  from  the 
Greenes'  back-door.  It  has  been  "  cleared  " 
and  cultivated,  except  the  very  summit,  where 
is  a  handful  of  rough,  broken  rocks,  dropped 
by  a  giant  perhaps ;  and  among  these  grow 
a  score  or  so  of  oaks  and  chestnuts.  The 
chestnut-trees  are  bare,  but  the  oak-leaves, 
though  they  have  been  bitten  by  the  frosts 
and  whipped  by  the  winds,  still  cling  to  their 
places,  most  of  them,  and  will,  all  winter  ;  in 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


29 


the  quiet  south-wind  they  whisper  together 
of  summer-time,  and  laugh  at  the  weak- 
minded  chestnut-leaves  lying  below,  and  say 
to  each  other,  — 

"  Let 's  stick  it  out,  in  spite  of  wind 
and  weather,  boys,  —  in  spite  of  wind  and 
V'cather ! " 

From  their  pleasant  seats,  on  flat  rocks 
piled  together,  Daisy  and  Chrismus  can  look 
off  over  miles  and  miles  of  hills  and  valleys ; 
can  trace  the  course  of  the  industrious 
Blackstone  iR-iver ;  can  count  dozens  of  farm- 
houses and  point  out  several  mill-villages ; 
can  see  the  spires  of  Pawtucket,  and,  on  a 
clear  day,  the  tall  white  steeple  of  the  "  First 
'  Baptist"  in  Providence. 

Rosedale,  all  in  view,  aspires  only  to  tow- 
ers ;  and  from  one  of  these,  —  a  remarkable 
specimen  of  architecture,  by  the  way,  likened 
by  imaginative  minds  to  a  hogshead  with 
every  other  two  staves  knocked  out,  —  from 
this  come  the  tones  of  a  mellow- voiced  bell, 
tolling  slowly  its  last  summons  to  morning 
prayer. 

"  Dat  bell  sound  very  nat'ral.  Miss  Daisy. 
Chrismus  use  to  hear  a  bell  toll,  ebery  Sun- 


30  CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


day  mornin',  dat  say  'Come! — come!  — 
come!' — jes'  like  dat." 

"  Where,  Chrismus  ?  " 

"  Way  down  in  de  ole  Car'lina  State, 
whar  Chrismus  was  born  an'  raise'." 

"  Was  it  a  meetin'-bell  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Sissy ;  but  we  all  call  it  church- 
bell :  — 'bout  de  same,  I  'spex.  An'  all  Massa 
King's  people  dey  dress  up  in  dey  bes'  clo'es 
an'  go  to  de  '  chapel,'  an'  Massa  King  he 
read  de  service,  an'  Missy  King  she  play  de 
melodymum,  an'  de  kier  sing,  —  "bet  dat  kier 
could  sing,  an'  all  de  people  jine  in.  Ki  ! 
Miss  Daisy,  sometimes  we  mos'  take  de  roof 
off!  — 

*  O  come,  let  us  sing  unto  de  Lord ; 

Let  us  heartily  rejoice  in  de  strenk  ob  our  salvatiom.' " 

His  clear,  full,  rich  voice  soared  heaven- 
ward through  the  quiet  sky,  as  he  sang  this 
glorious  anthem  of  the  church ;  and,  as  Daisy 
looked  up  at  his  face,  she  saw  tears  in  his 
eyes. 

"  What  you  cryin'  for,  Chrismus  ?  " 
"  Don'  know  'zac'ly,  darlin'.     Dat  blessed 
ole  chant !  —  'Spex  dere 's  a  sof^  spot  inside  o' 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  31 

Chrismus,  some'ers.  Chrismus  use  to  sing  in 
Missy  King's  kier,  and  dere  was  a  gal  use  to 
sing  — ;  but  you  don'  know  noffin'  about 
dat  yet ;  Flora  was  her  name.  Ki !  de  way 
dat  gal  sing!  'Pears  like  her  singin'  was 
good  enough  to  eat  !  An'  dat  gal  was  goin' 
to  be  Chrismus'  wife,  Daisy.  —  Good  Lord, 
whar 's  all  dem  people  now  !  Whar 's  Flora, 
an'  Mose,  an'  ole  Daddy  Joe,  an'  Uncle 
Sam  ?  Dey  done  change  dat  name  for  Un- 
cle Jeff^  but  he  baptized  *  Sam,'  an'  he  mar- 
ried '  Sam,'  an'  reckon  he  die  '  Sam  ' ;  an' 
whar 's  de  res'  ob  'em  ?    '  Spex  —  " 

What  Chrismus  spected,  Daisy  did  not 
stay  to  hear.  She  was  too  young  to  be  in- 
terested in  his  rambling  talk.  He  spoke  of 
matters  strangely  new  to  her  ;  "  service  "  and 
"  melodymum,"  and  "  chant  "  and  "  kier," 
were  words  that  had  no  place  in  her  vocabu- 
lary. She  understood  Bose  better  when  he 
crouched  at  her  feet,  with  his  nose  between 
his  paws  and  a  challenge  to  a  frolic  in  his 
eyes.  The  two  were  rolling  together  down 
the  hill,  laughing  as  loudly  as  they  knew 
how,  while  Chrismus  sat  with  bowed  head, 
and  thought  himself  back  at  his  old  plant  a- 


32  CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


tion  home.  Freedom  among  strangers,  or 
bondage  among  friends  ?  He  more  than 
half  wished  himself  back  again.  His,  had 
been  a  mild  and  merry  kind  of  bondage ; 
the  "  institution  "  had  been  truly  patriarchal 
and  paternal,  just  and  kind,  —  as  much  so 
as  ever  it  can  be,  —  on  Massa  King's  estate ; 
for  there  have  been,  and  doubtless  are,  not  a 
few  exceptions  to  the  generally  harsh  and 
cruel  and  degrading  rule  of  slavery.  Of  no 
use,  however,  to  wish  himself  back  again; 
for  rude  war  had  built  a  battery  on  the  very 
site  of  the  cabin  that  Chrismus  called  home ; 
and  "  de  House,"  that  had  been  the  elegant 
residence  of  the  Kings,  was  in  use  as  Gen- 
eral Thunder's  head-quarters ;  —  all  the  "  peo- 
ple "  of  that  once  peaceful  plantation  were 
scattered  far  and  wide. 

Speaking  of  war  — 

Bang  !  —  close  by. 

Chrismus  comes  back  with  a  leap  from 
the  side  of  Flora  in  the  "  kier  "  to  Cumber- 
land. Daisy  runs  up  to  him,  with  question- 
ing terror  in  her  little  face.  Bose  has  barked 
once,  twice,  and  has  disappeared  behind  the 
rocks,  and  returns,  wagging  his  tail,  followed 
by  Dave. 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


33 


"  Dat 's  young  Mass'  'Bijah's  gun,  you 
Dave  !  Who  tole  you  might  take  dat  ?  He 
tell  me  take  care  all  his  tings.  An'  you  go 
an'  take  dat  gun  an'  shoot  squirrels  Sunday 
mornin',  and  scare  folks  mos'  to  deff ! " 

"  Come,  come,  Chrismus  !  don't  scold  so  ; 
no  harm  done  yet.  You  '11  clean  the  gun  up 
all  right  this  afternoon^  won't  you?  " 

"  Not  dis  afternoon,  Massa  Dave.  Dis 
Bunday  !  Don'  you  know  what  Sunday  is  ? 
*  'Member  de  Sabbaf  day  to  keep  him 
holy.'  'Pears  like  dere  don'  nobody  know  de 
comman'ments  roun'  here.  What  '11  yer  ma 
say,  takin'  dat  gun  ?  " 

"  I  don't  care  what  she  says.  Father 
saw  me  take  it,  an'  all  he  said  was,  *  Be  care- 
ful.' " 

"  But  yer  might  'a'  shot  Daisy,  or  Bose,  or 
me,  poppin'  roun'  de  bush.  You  don'  know 
to  shoot." 

"  Chrismus  !  Chrismus  !  there 's  the  white 
towel  out  of  the  window !    Come  ! " 

Daisy  and  Bose  had  started  for  home ; 
Dave  and  Chrismus  followed  them.  On  the 
way,  apprehensions  of  what  ma  might  say 
about  "dat  gun"  led  Dave  to  try  to  coax 

3 


34 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


Chrismus  to  take  the  terrible  weapon  off  his 
hands,  but  in  vain. 

"  Dis  chile  neber  tole  a  lie  yet  I  " 

"  This  would  n't  be  telling  a  lie.  You 
need  n't  say  anything." 

"  ^Say  anything  ? '  'T  a'n't  only  de  tongue 
dat  speak." 

"  Well,  then,  you  need  n't  even  show 
yourself.  Take  the  gun  round  the  other  side 
the  house,  and  I'll  go  in  and  open  the  press- 
room window,  and  you  can  pass  it  in  to  me." 

"  No,  Massa  Dave  ;  dat  won'  do." 

"  Confound  the  nigger,"  mutters  Dave. 

" '  Nigger  '  ?  Look  heah.  Mass'  Dave  ! 
It 's  a  awful  bad  ting  to  be  a  nigger,  dat 's 
so ;  but  de  nigger  he  won't  tell  a  lie,  an'  de 
white  boy  will ;  de  nigger  'member  the 
Sabbaf  day,  an'  de  white  boy  go  off  shoot- 
in'  squirrel  a  Sunday.  I'se  drudder  be  de 
nigger ! " 

"  You  preachy  will  you !  Guess  we  '11 
have  to  call  you  Elder  Chrismus,  you  're  so 
pious." 

Dave  left  the  gun  in  the  barn  to  be 
brought  into  the  house  after  dark. 

The  preaching  he  had  heard  glanced  oft' 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


35 


from  the  "  white  boy's "  conscience,  yet  left 
a  "  dent."  If  you  could  have  looked  into 
his  heart,  you  would  have  seen  a  little 
shame  there  at  having  proved  himself,  not 
less  pious,  for  he  had  learned  in  some  way 
to  sneer  at  pieti/,  but  less  honorable  than 
Chrismus,  who  was  "  only  a  nigger."  You 
would  have  seen  some  vexation,  also,  half 
with  Chrismus,  half  with  himself;  vexation, 
a  part  of  which  arose  from  this,  that  he 
could  not  help  respecting-  Chrismus,  after 
all.  As  for  that  part  of  the  sermon  which 
related  to  the  "  comman'ments,"  he  said  to 
himself,  — 

"  Queer  notions !  Would  nH  clean  a 
gun  Sunday  !  Mighty  pious  nigger,  that ! 
Wonder  if  he  thinks  we're  all  heathen. 
Guess  my  father's  as  good  as  it's  worth 
while,  and  he  says  Sunday  was  meant  to 
be  a  day  of  rest  and  amusement :  do  what 
you  like  Sundays." 

After  dinner  —  and  it  was  a  good  dinner  ; 
Dave  ate  lots  of  chicken-pie  —  he  took  a 
pickaxe  and  a  hoe,  and  Bose  took  fore  paws, 
and  they  went  and  dug  out  that  woodchuck. 


CHAPTER  V. 

SPAKE  unadvisedly  with  my 
lips  when,  just  now,  I  described 
the  Rosedale  church-tower  by 
comparing  it  with  a  hogshead 
with  every  other  two  staves 
knocked  out.  My  description  was  not  inac- 
curate, and  yet  perhaps  I  had  better  not  have 
spoken  so  irreverently.  Let  me  make  amends 
by  saying  that  the  interior  of  the  edifice,  thus 
shabbily  surmounted,  is  neat,  tasty,  and  com- 
modious. A  finer  chancel  is  hardly  to  be 
found  in  the  diocese,  —  except,  of  course,  in 
those  city  churches  for  which  Upjohn  made, 
and  rich  men  paid,  the  bills.  Chestnut  pre- 
vails with  neatness  and  taste ;  and  when 
the  Bishop  preaches,  five  hundred  people 
are  dazzled  by  the  brightness  of  the  chancel- 
windows  and  electrified  by  his  Grace's  elo- 
quence, at  the  same  time.  When  the  rector 
has  a  congregation  of  three  hundred,  he  thinks 
the  day  must  be  unusually  fine. 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


37 


The  Rector  of  Rosedale  —  of  whom  it  is 
enough  to  say  that  he  is  a  quiet,  elderly  man 
who  will  probably  never  set  the  Blackstone 
on  fire  —  is  sometimes  heard  to  speak  with 
pardonable  pride  of  his  Sunday-school;  he 
is  honest  enough,  however,  to  say  that  one 
cause  of  his  Sunday-school's  prosperity  may 
be,  that  he  has  very  little  to  do  with  it  him- 
self. He  found  a  large  and  thriving  school 
when  he  first  came  to  the  parish  ;  it  had  grown 
up  under  the  care  and  zeal  of  a  superintend- 
ent admirably  well  fitted  for  his  place,  and 
of  teachers  whose  hearts  were  in  their  work. 
"  Let  well  enough  alone  "  is  a  sensible  proverb, 
and  the  Rector  adopted  it.  And  yet  he  has 
always  taken  great  interest  in  his  Sunday- 
school,  and  has  done  all  that  he  could  for  it. 

A  Sunday-school  numbering  more  than 
three  hundred  members,  in  a  quiet  little  mill- 
village,  may  be  worth  mentioning  in  a  book. 
Indeed,  this  of  ours  ought  to  have  been  spoken 
of  in  our  list  of  village  "  institutions."  We 
should  be  sorry  to  have  that  mill  "  shut  down," 
or  "  run  half-time  "  even.  We  should  miss 
our  Sunday-evening  "  sings,"  all  of  us,  old  and 
young.    We  should  hardly  know  how  to  keep 


38 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


Christmas  or  Easter  without  our  Sunday- 
school  "  celebrations." 

Would  you  like  to  hear  of  what  we  call 
a  "  sing  "  ? 

At  an  early  hour  —  so  early  that  the  little 
folks  can  come,  and  yet  get  home  at  proper 
bedtime  —  we  gather  together,  three  or  four 
hundred  of  us,  in  our  large,  well-lighted,  cheer- 
ful room,  —  the  children  often  accompanied 
by  their  parents  and  friends.  At  one  side  of 
the  desk  stands  a  sweet  and  powerful  har- 
monium, and  our  organist  is  there  with  most 
or  all  of  the  church-choir. 

"  Now,  you  little  folks  on  the  front-seats, 
and  you  older  boys  and  girls,  ali  of  you,  re- 
member what  day  this  is  and  whose  it  is. 
Let's  have  no  playing,  no  whispering,  no 
noise  with  the  feet.  If  I  find  you  are  uneasy 
and  noisy,  I  shall  conclude  you  are  getting 
tired  of  these  '  sings,'  and  we  won't  have 
any  more  for  some  time.  Turn  to  your 
Prayer-books  and  find  the  184th  Hymn 
You  know  the  tune :  — 

'  While  thee  I  seek,  protecting  power, 

Be  my  vain  wishes  stilled  : 
And  may  this  consecrated  hour 

Willi  bi'fiLir  hopi.'S  be  fiikvJ.' 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  39 

* 

Now  sing  this  softly,  quietly,  and  think  who 
it  is,  this  '  protecting  power,'  that  has  spared 
our  lives  and  given  us  health  and  strength, 
and  homes  and  friends,  and  a  pleasant  Sun- 
day-school and  kind  teachers  ;  who  has  made 
music,  beautiful  music,  for  us  to  be  happy 
with,  and  has  given  us  voices  to  sing  with, 
and 

*  lips  that  we  may  tell 

How  good  is  God  our  Father, 
Who  doeth  all  things  well.' 

All  ready.     Sing ! " 

"  Now  we  '11  try  that  new  tune  I  spoke  of 
for  the  43d  Hymn,  —  *  "While  shepherds 
watched  their  flocks  by  night.'  If  this  tune 
goes  well,  perhaps  we  shall  take  it  to  sing  on 
Christmas.  The  choir  will  sing  the  first 
verse  by  themselves,  and  you  listen.  Read 
over  the  words  while  they  sing  them,  and 
kfum  the  tune  gently,  if  you  like.  We  shall 
all  learn  it  soon.  You  older  ones  that  have 
been  learning  to  sing  with  Mr.  Loomis, 
we  depend  on  you  to  take  right  hold  and 
make  the  tune  go.  Ready." 

"  That 's  a  good  tune.    Now  we  '11  all  try 


40  CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 

it  —  same  verse.  You  may  let  your  voices 
out  on  this.    Sing !  " 

"  Six  verses,  and  rather  a  hard  tune,  too ; 
but  you  sang  it  very  well,  I  guess  you  like 
the  tune,  you  learned  it  so  readily  and  sang 
it  so  heartily.  Now  we  '11  rest  a  while.  —  Who 
of  the  girls  have  '  pieces  '  to  recite  ?  Who 
of  the  boys  ?  Hold  up  your  hands  so  that  I 
can  see  them  all.  That  '11  do.  Maggie, 
you  may  come  first." 

(Maggie  leaves  her  seat  and  goes  to  the 
platform  to  stand  by  the  superintendent's 
side,  as  he  sits  there.  She  gives  him  the 
book  from  which  she  has  learned  her  hymn, 
so  that  he  may  prompt  her  if  she  forgets  a 
word  or  two.) 

"  I  hear  somebody  whispering !  Listen 
now,  and  hear  how  well  Maggie  will  repeat 
this  beautiful  piece  of  poetry.  —  Begin,  Mag- 
gie.   Speak  distinctly.    Now ! "  • 

"  Very  well  done,  Maggie  ;  and  it  is  really 
a  beautiful  hymn.  —  Robert,  did  I  see  your 
hand  up  ?  Well  ;  learn  one  for  next  time. 
—  Archie,    we  '11    hear  you.     Be  careful 


CONTRABAND  CHKISTMAS.  41 


about  *  sing-song,'  giving  the  wrong  accent 
to  the  words.  —  Children,  Archie  is  going 
to  recite  a  piece  which  is  entitled  *  The 
Drummer  Boy.'  Listen  very  quietly. — 
Rufus,  keep  your  feet  still!  Ready  now, 
Archie." 

(After  Archie,  Marion  recites;  and  so  we 
have  recitations  from  half  a  dozen  boys  and 
girls  in  turn  ;  and  then  we  sing  again.) 

"  The  Rector  wants  to  have  us  sing  some 
of  our  old  tunes.  Which  shall  we  take  ? 
Let 's  try  our  old  *  Gloria  in  Excelsis.'  Re- 
member that  when  we  come  to  '  Thou  that 
takest  away  the  sins  of  the  world,'  you  must 
sing  more  softly.  Watch  my  hands,  and 
I  '11  show  you  when  to  sing  softly  and  when 
to  come  in  full  again.  Play  it  over,  Mr. 
Gilbert,  so  that  we  can  recall  the  tune.  And 
if  any  of  you  want  the  words  before  you, 
turn  to  them  in  your  Prayer-books  :  in  the 
morning  prayer,  you  know.  James,  help 
your  neighbor  find  the  place.  Now !  All 
together !    Sing  !  " 

"  Well  sung !  What  glorious  words,  and 
how  nobly  that  music  kelps  us  raise  them! 


42 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


Whi/  do  we  sing  *  Glory  be  to  God  on  high  *  ? 
—  *  Because  He  is  so  good  to  us.'  A  very- 
good  answer.  —  'Because  we  love  Him.' 
That  a  good  answer  too  ;  and  '  we  love  Him 
because  He  first  loved  us,'  you  know,  and  sent 
His  Son  to  save  us.  There  are  no  words  full 
enough,  and  there 's  no  music  grand  enough, 
to  sing  our  praises  for  such  love  as  God  the 
Father  shows  us  through  Jesus  Christ,  His 
Son,  our  Lord.  May  He  grant  that  we  may 
all  meet  to  join  our  voices  in  the  anthems 
round  the  throne  I —  Now,  there 's  another  of 
our  favorite  old  tunes  —  *  The  fields  bedeck- 
ed with  flowers  ' ;  we  '11  sing  that  once  more, 
and. then  the  Rector  will  read  you  a  story,  or 
perhaps  tell  one,  or  talk  with  you,  —  or  else 
I  will ;  and  then  the  40th  Hymn ;  and  then 
it  '11  be  time  to  go  home.  You  have  behaved 
very  well,  so  far,  this  evening.  Next  Sun- 
day evening,  the  Lantern^ 

And  the  "  sing "  is  closed  with  the  bene- 
diction by  the  Rector. 

"  The  Lantern."  —  A  Magic  Lantern  ? 

Yes ;  a  fine  one :  calcium  light,  oxygen 
gas,  and  all  that.    Any  objections  ? 

Why,  no,  perhaps  not ;  but  a  magic  Ian- 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  43 


tern  for  a  Sunday-school,  and  exhibited  on 
Sunday  evening? 

Certainly.  All  the  preparations  are  made 
on  Saturday:  on  Sunday  evening,  all  we 
have  to  do  is  to  light  the  lantern  and  place 
the  "slides"  before  it.  And  our  pictures 
are  all  Bible-pictures  :  "  Christ  blessing 
little  children,"  a  photograph  on  glass  of 
West's  beautiful  painting,  finely  colored, 
magnified  to  a  diameter  of  eight  or  ten  feet ; 
"the  Beautiful  Gate  of  the  Temple,"  from 
Raphael ;  "E/cbekah  at  the  Well,"  after  some 
"other  famous  artist.  We  have  a  score  or  two 
of  pictures  like  these,  and  at  our  exhibitions 
the  Rector  explains  them  and  talks  about 
them,  one  by  one  ;  or  else  the  Maggies  and 
Marys,  or  Josephs  and  Johns,  recite  appro- 
priate poetry  or  prose,  or  the  passage  of 
Scripture  illustrated,  for  each  picture. 

But  your  room  must  be  dark  while  the 
pictures  are  shown. 

Yes. 

And  do  your  children  behave  well  after  the 
lights  are  put  out  ? 
Yes^  sir ! 


CHAPTER  YI. 

R.  ROSE  teaches  six  days  in  a 
week.  Most  teachers  think  five 
days'  teaching  quite  enough  ; 
but  Mr.  Rose  enjoys  very 
much  his  large  class  in  Sun- 
day-school. 

"  David j"  said  he,  one  Friday  afternoon  at 
close  of  school,  "  you  have  heard  the  boys 
talk  about  our  Magic  Lantern.  Would  n't 
you  like  to  see  it  ?  We  are  to  have  an  ex- 
hibition next  Sunday  evening,  and  couldn't 
you  stay  over  Sunday  this  week  to  go  ? " 

"  I  should  like  to,  thank  you,  sir ;  but 
cousin  Olney  and  his  wife  are  going  away 
to-morrow,  to  be  gone  over  Sunday." 

"  Well,  come  and  stay  with  me.  Mrs. 
Rose  would  be  glad  to  have  you,  I  am  sure." 

"  Thank  you ;  you  are  very  kind ;  but 
I  have  n't  got  my  best  clothes  here.  And  I 
don't  know  whether  ma  would  be  willing.'* 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


45 


"Well,  David,  I'll  tell  you  what  to  do: 
You  go  home  to-night,  —  you  expect  to  walk 
home  to  -night,  I  think  you  told  me  ?  " 

«  Yes,  sir." 

"  Well ;  go  home  and  talk  with  your 
mother  about  it;  tell  her  we'll  take  good 
care  of  you ;  and  then,  if  she  is  willing,  put 
on  your  best  suit  to-morrow  afternoon  and 
come  down.  Perhaps  your  father  will  send 
you  in  the  wagon." 

"  Thank  you,  Mr.  Rose.  But  would  n't  it 
be  too  much  trouble  to  you  to  keep  me  over 
Sunday  ?  "  ' 

"  Oh  no ;  no  trouble  at  all ;  glad  to  have 
you  come." 

The  matter  was  talked  over  that  night  at 
David's  home,  and  the  parental  consent 
gained. 

"  But  there 's  no  need,"  said  Mrs.  Greene, 
"  of  your  going  to-morrow ;  you  can  just  as 
well  wait  and  go  down  Sunday  afternoon." 

"  I  don't  think  Mr.  Rose  would  quite  like 
that,  ma.  He  believes  in  keeping  Sunday, 
you  know ;  and  I 'd  rather  not  displease  him, 
when  he  has  been  so  kind  as  to  invite  me  to 
stay  at  his  house." 


46 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTiVIAS. 


"  And  what  would  you  do  all  day  Sun- 
day ?  " 

"  Go  to  church,  I  suppose,  with  Mr.  Rose. 
And  I  should  like  to  go,  too.  They  say  it 's 
a  real  pretty  church,  and  they've  got  an 
organ,  and  have  first-rate  singing.  Mary 
Martin  sings  in  the  choir." 

"  Oho,  young  man !    Mary  Martin,  is  it  ? 

—  Wealthy,  that 's  the  young  lady  that  Dave 
owned  he  was  passing  the  note  tp,  —  the  note 
that  Mr.  Rose  read  out  loud  before  the 
school.  Don't  you  remember  how  our  young 
friend  here  flared  up  and  scolded  away  about 
the  teacher?  And  it's  Miss  Mary  Martin 
that  makes  part  of  the  -attraction,  hey  ?  " 

"  Now,  'Bijah,  stop  teasing  the  boy  about 
that,  do !  Who  got  into  a  great  passion 
forty  years  ago  because  somebody's  dinner- 
pail  was  upset?    Boys  will  be  boys,  'Bijah, 

—  though  I  will  say  our  David 's  beginning 
rather  young." 

"  Yes ;  and  girls  will  be  girls.  Wealthy. 
I  remember  just  how  red  your  pretty  face 
was  when  I  stood  up  and  said,  '  Anybody 
meddle  with  Wealthy  Simmons's  dinner-pail 
again  if  he  dares  ! '  " 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  47 


Dave  had  gone  out  of  the  room  into  the 
back  kitchen,  soon  after  his  father  had 
quoted  his  "  Mary  Martin "  so  teasingly, 
and  did  not  hear  these  parental  reminis- 
cences. He  was  trying  to  explain  the  mys- 
teries of  the  Magic  Lantern  to  Chrismus  ;  but 
either  he  did  not  explain  very  well,  —  which 
is  probable,  since  he  knew  but  little  about 
the  matter,  —  or  Chrismus  did  not  understand 
very  well,  —  which  is  not  to  be  wondered  at ; 
for  they  made  a  muddle  of  it  together. 

"  Magic  Lantum !  what 's  dat  ?  " 

"  Why,  you  know  what  a  lantern  is, 
Chrismus  ?  " 

"  Sartumly !  Dere  one  hangin'  up  behin' 
de  do'  now."  , 

"  Well,  this  a'n't  like  that."  —  (A  pause.) 

"  An'  dat  a' n't  like  dis.  So  fur  am  so 
good.    Go  on.  Mass'  Dave." 

"  You  keep  still  now,  if  you  want  to  hear 
about  it.  You  see  they  make  a  quantity  of 
gas  " — 

"  What 's  dat  ?  Oh  I  I  'se  hear  de  sogers 
say  to  one  umnudder,  *  O  gas  ! '  when  one 
tell  a  big"— 

"  Keep  still,  will  you  ?  or  else  Pll  stop. 


48  CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


You  don't  know  what  gas  is.  Gas  is  a  — 
a  kind  of  a  —  well ;  it 's  a  substance  " — 

" '  Substums  ' ;  go  on." 

"  And  they  put  it  in  a  bag ;  and  if  it 
should  catch  a-fire,  it  would  all  blow 
up!" 

"  An'  den  what  dey  do  ?  " 
"  Why,  they  light  the  lantern  with  this 
gas  "  — 

"  Den  dey  all  blow  up !  Ki !  Dis  chile 
drudder  not  go  to  dat  exumbishum  !  " 

"  No,  it  don't  blow  up,  neither !  They 
screw  it  on  behind  the  lantern  and  touch  it 
off  inside." 

"  Oh,  dat  it,  den  ?  '  Screw  it  on  '  an* 
'  touch  it  off,'  —  an'  den  ?  " 

"  Then  they  have  a  very  strong  light ;  and 
they  put  pictures  in  front  of  it,  and  they 
show  through  ;  —  they  have  a  large  cloth  in 
front"  — 

"  *  Cloff '  ?  " 
Yes ;   and  the   pictures   show  on  the 
cloth." 

" '  An'  de  picture  show  on  de  cloff ;  * 
I  see.  But  what  become  ob  de  sub- 
stums  ?  " 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  49 


"  Fudge  !  What 's  the  use  of  trying  to 
explain  anything  to  you  I  " 

Dave  persuaded  his  mother  that  it  was 
best  for  him  to  go  on  Saturday,  rather  than  on 
Sunday.  He  was  really  very  much  pleased 
at  the  having  received  an  invitation  to  stay 
at  Mr.  Rose's,  and  he  wished  to  show  due 
respect  for  what  he  rightly  suspected  were 
his  teacher's  opinions  in  regard  to  keeping 
Sunday.  Mrs.  Rose  he  knew  to  be  a 
cheerful,  hearty  little  body,  who  would  be 
sure  to  entertain  him  kindly,  and  he  prom- 
ised himself  a  pleasant  visit. 

"  I  don't  know  how  I  shall  behave  in 
church,  ma.  Why  don't  we  go  to  church, 
or  meeting,  or  whatever  it  is,  sometimes  ? 
There's  Elder  Watkins  has  asked  you  ever 
so  many  times  ;  I 've  heard  him.  Why 
don't  you  speak,  ma  ?  " 

"  David,  when  you  are  old  enough,  you 
will  know  all  about  such  things.  Meeting 
never  did  me  any  good, —  not  the  kind  we  had 
when  I  was  a  girl;  but  I've  no  objections 
to  your  going.  I  want  to  go  down  to  the 
store  Monday,  and  you  can  come  back  with 
me,  and  stay  overnight.  Your  father  will 
4 


50  CONTRABAND  CHRISTIklAS. 


send  you  down  next  morning.  You  will 
want  to  change  your  clothes,  you  know." 

David  shall  tell  the  story  of  his  Sunday 
experiences  in  his  own  words,  in  Chapter 
VII. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


ONDAY  night.  A  roaring  fire 
in  the  Franklin  stove.  Father 
and  ma  and  Dave  sitting  in 
front  of  it.  Daisy  asleep  in 
her  little  bed  in  the  bedroom 
close  by.  Chrismus  keeping  the  cooking- 
stove  warm  in  the  back  kitchen,  the  door 
open. 

"  Ef  you  please,  Missy  Greene,  so  Chris- 
mus kin  hear  'bout  dat  magic  lantum." 

"  Shall  I  begin  at  the  beginning  ?  "  says 
Dave. 

"  Unless  you  choose  to  begin  in  the  mid- 
dle, and  tell  both  ways,"  replies  his  father. 

"  He  !  he  !  "  remarks  Chrismus. 

"  Well,  you  see,  in  the  first  place,  Mr. 
Rose  sent  round  and  invited  aU  the  High- 
School  boys  and  girls  to  spend  the  evening 
at  his  house  Saturday,  and  we  had  a  tip-top 
time,  I  tell  ^ow." 


52  CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


«  Was  Mary  Martin  there  ?  " 

"  Yes,  father,  if  you  want  to  know.  And 
she  was  the  prettiest  girl  in  the  room,  too." 

"  How  old  did  you  say  she  was  ?  " 

"  Fifteen,  last  winter." 

"  Almost  sixteen,  then,  now ;  and  you  're 
only  fourteen !  Well,  that 's  the  way,  or 
used  to  be.    Go  on." 

"  Well ;  I  wish  you 'd  keep  your  questions 
till  I  get  through.  You  're  as  bad  as  Chris- 
mus  was  the  other  night,  when  I  tried  to  ex- 
plain to  him  about  the  magic  lantern.  He 
interrupted  me  so  much  that  I  could  n't  help 
getting  all  mixed  up." 

"  He  !  he  ! "  from  the  cooking-stove. 

"  Well ;  we  had  a  real  good  time.  We 
played  all  the  plays,  —  I  guess  you  and  ma 
know  what  they  are  ;  don't  you  ?  —  and 
ended  off  with  blind-man's-buff.  Did  n't  we 
make  things  rattle  I  When  I  got  back  "  — 

"  '  Got  back  ?  '    Where  did  you  go  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  did  n't  mean  to  tell  that  !  Why,  I 
went  home  with  Mary  Martin,  of  course. 
There  was  a  big  fellow  kind  o'  shying  up  to 
her,  but  I  cut  in  ahead  of  him,  and  she  took 
my  arm,  just  as  easy  !  " 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  53 

♦ 

"  Took  your  arm !  Well !  I  say,  Wealthy, 
what  do  you  think  of  that  ?  " 

"  And  then  I  went  to  bed,  in  their  spare 
room.  I  was  'most  afraid  to  get  into  that 
bed,  it  looked  so  neat  and  nice.  In  the  morn- 
ing I  got  up,  of  course  "  — 

"  Of  course  !    Good  boy.    Go  on." 

"  And  went  down  stairs  ;  and  what  do  you 
think  ?  there  was  n't  anybody  else  up  in  the 
house  !  The  clock  said  seven  and  after,  but 
I  thought  it  must  be  wrong ;  so  I  went  qui- 
etly back  to  my  room  again.  'T  was  n't 
long  before  I  heard  somebody  stirring,  and, 
in  half  an  hour  or  so,  they  rang  a  bell.  Says 
1,  that 's  breakfast ;  goodie !  So  I  went  down  ; 
but  Mr.  Rose  was  blacking  his  shoes,  and 
he  said  I  was  an  *  early  bird.'  Well ;  the 
breakfast  was  ready  pretty  soon.  —  Why 
don't  you  make  rye  bread,  ma,  like  you  used 
to  ?  Mrs.  Rose's  rye  bread  was  splendid.  I 
said  it  was  splendid,  at  the  table,  and  Mr. 
Rose  says,  '  David,  if  you  call  rye  bread 
splendid,  what  adjective  will  you  have  to 
spare  for  a  fine  sunset  ?  '  Well ;  after  break- 
fast, Mr.  Rose  went  into  the  other  room  and 
got  a  large  book,  and  Mrs.  Rose  went  in, 


54  CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 

and  me,  and  we  sat  down,  and  Mr.  Rose 
read  out  of  it.  It  was  all  about  Jesus  Christ 
and  some  children:  you  know,  ma,  —  that 
story  you  used  to  tell  me  when  I  was  a  little 
fellow,  about  '  Suffer  the  little  children,' 
you  know.  And  when  he  got  through, 
he  said, '  Let  us  pray  ; '  and  they  knelt  down, 
me  too,  and  he  prayed  some  time." 

"  Bress  de  Lord,"  said  Chrismus,  in  a  low 
voice. 

"  And  then,  pretty  soon,  we  went  to 
church.  I  can't  tell  you  much  about  it,  ex- 
cept that  there  was  a  very  bright  window  at 
the  further  end,  and  the  minister  wore  a  long 
white  night-gown  kind  of  a  garment,  and 
the  folks  kept  getting  up  and  sitting  down. 
Sometimes  the  minister  talked,  and  then  the 
people  answered  him ;  and  then  all  of  a  sud- 
den the  organ  would  come  in  and  the  choir. 
I  could  n't  hardly  keep  up,  but  I  watched  Mr. 
Rose,  and  did  what  he  did  as  well  as  I  could. 
Mrs.  Rose  kept  handing  me  a  book,  opened, 
and  saying  ^  there  it  is ' ;  but  that  only  made 
matters  worse.  I  was  glad  when  they  got 
through." 

"  Chrismus,  you  need  n't  stand  in  the. door," 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  55 


said  Mrs.  Greene ;  "  come  in  and  sit  down,  if 
you  want  to." 

"  What  kin'  of  a  church  was  dat,  Mass' 
Dave  ?  Don'  dey  call  him  a  ^Piscopal 
church  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  believe  so." 

"  Bress  de  good  Lord  !  Why  did  n't  I 
know  dere  was  a  'Piscopal  church  here 
afore  ^" 

"  Why,  what  do  you  know  about  a  church, 
Chrismus?"  asked  Mr.  Greene. 

"  Dis  poor  chile  done  been  raise  in  a  'Pisco- 
pal church,  Massa.  Been  to  church  like  dat 
Mass'  Dave  tell  about  ebery  Sunday  eber 
since  I  'se  done  born !  Chrismus  use  to  sing 
in  de  kier  !  Massa  King  was  de  minister,  — 
on'y  he  didn'  wear  de  white  garmen' ;  — 
sometimes  de  Bishop  come,  and  he  wear  de 
robe ;  and  Missy  King,  she  play  on  de  me- 
lodymum.  Ki  I  Dis  nigger 's  a  heap  glad  to 
know  dere's  a  church  close  by  —  if  Massa 
Greene's  willin'  to  let  a  poor  feller  jes  go 
home  Sundays.  —  De  good  Lord!  De  good 
Lord  above !  " 

"  Certainly,  Chrismus.  You  shall  go  to 
church  every  Sunday,  if  you  like.'' 


56  CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


"  Tank  you,  Massa !    Now,  Mass'  Dave, 
jes  please  go  on." 

"  Well,  at  noon-time  there  was  a  Sunday- 
school,  and  we  went." 

"  Dat 's  it !  Chrismus  know  all  about  dat ! " 
"  I  should  think  there  might  have  been  as 
many  folks  in  the  Sunday-school  as  there 
was  in  church,  only  they  were  scattered  about 
in  classes.    'Twas  rather  dull  work  for  me, 
looking  on;  but  they  sung  first-rate.  And 
then,  right  after  Sunday-school,  we  went  to 
church  again.    Just  the  same  as  it  was  in 
the  morning,  only  the  minister  went  out 
through  a  side-door,  and  when  he  came  back 
he  wore  a  black  gown.    Mrs.  Rose  told  me, 
after  church,  that  the  white  dress  was  called 
a  surplice,  and  the  black  one  a  gown.  The 
minister  went  up  into  a  high  place,  and 
did  n't  he  preach  to  'em  I    He  talked  about 
something  or  other  in  the  morning,  but  in 
the  afternoon  he  just  pitched  in,  I  should 
say.    Told  the  folks  they  did  n't  come  to 
church   enough,   and   did  n't  give  money 
enough,  and  behaved  so  as  to  make  other 
folks  laugh  at  them.    Tell  you,  I  should  have 
thought  some  of  them  would  have  got  mad 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  67 

and  gone  out;  but  they  all  sat  quiet  and 
took  it;  —  and  one  lady  I  saw  asleep^  just  as 
comfortable.  I  liked  the  music,  all  day.  I 
did  want  to  turn  round  and  look  up,  but  1 
daresn't.  Sometimes  the  organ  would  get 
agoing  louder  and  louder,  and  the  voices 
would  follow  it  up,  grand  !  It  almost  made 
me  stand  on  my  toes.  Ma,  you  're  so  fond 
of  music,  you  would  like  to  hear  such  music 
as  that." 

"Chrismus  boun'  to  go  next  Sunday,  sure 
"  In  the  evening,  after  tea,  we  went  to  the 
lantern  exhibition;  and  all  I  can  tell  you 
about  that  is,  that  you  never  saw  such  beau- 
tiful pictures  !  First,  though,  they  sung,  all 
hands,  —  little  bits  of  children,  old  folks  and 
all.  Then  they  turned  off  the  gas  and  the 
room  was  dark,  all  but  a  great  round  circle 
of  white,  at  the  end  of  the  room ;  and  then 
—  whack!  and  that  was. gone,  and  then  — 
whack!  again;  and  there  was  a  splendid 
picture,  all  in  colors,  and  the  figures  as  large 
as  life !  Pictures  of  people  and  pictures  of 
places :  and  the  minister  explained  them  all. 
I  can't  remember  them,  there  was  so  many ; 
but  one,  ma,  was  '  Christ  blessing  little  chil- 


58  CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


dren ' :  that  was  the  name  the  minister  gave 
it.  There  was  the  picture  of  a  little  girl  in 
it,  kneeling  down,  as  much  like  our  Daisy  in 
her  night-gown,  as  if  it  had  been  made  for 
her.    I  do  wish  you  could  have  seen  it !  " 

"  'Bijah,  do  you  know  what  time  it  is  ? 
Here's  this  boy  been  keeping  us  up  till  'most 
ten  o'clock!  David,  it's  time  you  were  in 
bed.  You  can  finish  the  rest  of  your  story 
some  other  time." 

"  Mrs.  Rose  give  me  one  of  their  books, 
ma.  It's  up-stairs  in  my  new  overcoat- 
pocket." 

"  Never  mind  that  to-night.  Go  to  bed 
now." 

"  Well,  good  night,  father !  Good  night, 
ma!" 

Chrismus  had  already  gone.  Kneeling  at 
his  bedside  that  night,  —  he  never  failed  to 
say  his  prayers,  night  and  morning,  —  after 
repeating  "  Our  Fader,"  he  "  tanked  de  good 
Lord "  for  telling  him  of  "  dat  church  "  ;  he 
prayed  for  his  "  ole  Massa  and  Missis,"  and 
"  dat  Flora,"  and  all  his  friends  in  "  de  ole 
place"  ;  for  his  new  friends,  also,  "'specially 
de  Cap'en  "  ;  and  then  once  more,  "  tank  de 
bressed  Lord  for  dat  church." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

EXT  morning  Mr.  Greene,  Da- 
vid, and  Chrismus  drove  off 
together.  Mr.  Greene  was  on 
his  way  to  Brighton  Market. 
He  had  more  hay  in  his  barns 
than  the  "  stock  "  in  his  stalls  would  be  likely 
to  consume  during  the  winter,  and  he  had 
determined  to  buy  more  cattle,  rather  than  to 
sell  his  surplus  of  hay.  David  was  left  at  his 
school-door  ;  Mr.  Greene  and  Chrismus  drove 
on  to  Pawtucket,  to  be  in  time  for  the  morn- 
ing-train to  Boston.  Chrismus  drove  home 
alone. 

That  night  the  family  consisted  only  of 
Mrs.  Greene,  Daisy,  and  Chrismus. 

It  was  a  bitter  cold  night.  All  day  the 
leaden  clouds  had  been  thickening  and  the 
northeast  wind  gaining  force  and  keenness. 

"  Guess  your  snoiv  is  coming  now,"  Mrs. 
Greene  had  remarked  to  Chrismus  toward 


60 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


night ;  and  the  poor  fellow  had  shrunk  into 
his  clothes  with  a  shivering  "  Ki !  " 

There  had  been  several  "  flurries  of  snow 
already,  but  up  to  this  time  the  month  had 
been  remarkably  mild  and  open.  This  was 
fortunate  for  our  southern  blackbird,  com- 
pelled to  winter  at  the  "  norf."  He  had 
become  somewhat  accustomed  to  the  "  cole 
wedder,*'  but  still  betrayed  his  partiality 
for  the  warm-hearted  cooking-stove.  To- 
day he  had  hurried  with  his  chores  "right 
smart.''  The  "  critters  "  received  due  atten- 
tion ;  the  usual  supply  of  wood  was  chopped ; 
nothing  was  neglected  :  but  Chrismus  took 
great  interest  in  finishing  the  cradle  he  had 
begun  to  make  for  Daisy,  —  an  occupation 
which  kept  him  seated  just  behind  the  stove. 

It  was  a  little  wicker-work  cradle,  being 
fashioned  in  imitation  of  a  toy-cradle  given 
to  Daisy  the  year  before,  and  now  almost  a 
complete  wreck.  Chrismus  was  ingenious 
and  "  handy  "  with  his  jack-knife;  he  dearly 
loved  Daisy,  who  reciprocated  his  attach- 
ment ;  and  was  very  willing  to  have  some- 
thing to  do  which  would  keep  him  near  the 
fire. 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  61 

With  sunset  came  the  snow ;  at  first  in  a 
fine  driving  mist,  soon  in  a  sweeping  cloud, 
howling  down  and  around  the  house,  rattling 
at  the  windows,  sifting  through  the  cracks  and 
under  the  doors,  and  terrifying  Chrismus, 
who  was  possessed  with  a  fear  that  they 
would  all  be  buried  beneath  the  white  wrath 
of  the  storm. 

Daisy  was  sitting  up  later  than  usual  — 
permitted  ,to  see  the  conclusion  of  the  im- 
portant labors  which  she  had  superintended 
all  day.  She  and  the  cradle-builder  were 
together  in  the  kitchen ;  Mrs.  Greene  sat  by 
herself  in  the  front-room,  reading.  Presently 
she  came  out  and  joined  the  workers,  bring- 
ing her  book  with  her  —  David's  new  prayer- 
book.    She  drew  up  a  chair  beside  them. 

"  Chrismus,  you  must  have  had  a  very 
good  master  and  mistress, —  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
King." 

"  Dey  was,  Missy  Greene,  ebery  way,  — 
de  Lord  bress  'em !  If  dey  had  gone  off  to 
Charleston  as  dey  talk  one  time,  an'  took 
deir  people  'long,  I  'se  gwine  too ;  an'  Flora 
was  gwine,  an'  mos'  all  de  res'.  K  dey  hadn' 
gone  away  in  de  bigges'  kin''  oh  a  hurry, 


62  CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


when  de  shell  come  a-bustin'  an'  a-tearin' 
'bout  de  place,  dey 'd  a-had  mos'  all  deir 
people  wid  'em  now.  Jake  and  Cesar,  dey 
use'  to  talk  'bout  freedom;  —  mighty  gran' 
ting,  freedom,  dis  chile  know  dat\  but  I'se 
tell  'em,  '  Don'  you  tink  it  right  mean  to  leave 
Massa  aad  Missis  when  dey  in  trouble  ? ' 
My  Flo'  was  in  '  de  house  ' ;  took  care  little 
Missy  Alice :  Flo'  go  wdd  her  Missis.  I  'se 
give  a  heap  to  know  whar  dey  ^1  be  now, 
an'  how  dey  do.  You  see,  JVIissy  Greene, 
Massa  King  was  a  good  Christian  man.  He 
use  to  say  sometime  dat  he  was  our  massa, 
but  de  Lord  w^as  de  Massa  of  all^  him  an'  us 
an'  eberybody,  an'  we  all  got  to  'bey  Him. 
He  say  de  Lord  made  him  our  massa,  an'  he 
got  to  give  a  'count  for  de  way  he  treat  us. 
An'  dis  chile  jes  wish  he  had  as  good  a 
'count  to  give  as  Massa  King !  Missis !  de 
Lord  •  bress  an'  keep  'er !  She  was  de  hes^ 
lady  de  good  Lord  eber  made !  Anybody 
sick.  Missy  King  come  to  see  'em.  Anybody 
die,  Missy  King  come  to  de  house  an'  read 
de  prayer.  Ole  aunty  Jule  got  de  rheumum- 
tism  ;  Missy  King  sen'  flannum  an'  linimump. 
Ole  daddy  Joe  loose  all  he  chicken  wid  de 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


63 


pip ;  Missy  King  sen'  'im  tree  poun'  o'  baccer, 
'cause  he  couldn'  buy  none  for  hese'f.  Dat 
woman  was  a  angel :  we  mos'  tink  we  see  de 
wing's,  under  de  white  shawl!  Hear  her  play 
on  de  piany  in  de  house,  or  on  de  melode- 
raum  in  de  chapel;  an'  sing,  —  bress  you, 
how  she  could  sing !  Flora  say  to  me  one 
Sunday,  '  Neber  min'  heben  jes  yet;  Missy 
King'^  music  nuf  for  dis  presen'.  She  use 
to  have  a  Sunday-school,  ebery  Sunday 
night.  Nobody  haf  to  go,  but  mos'  all  de 
people  dere,  reg'lar,  ole  an'  young.  An'  she 
talk  to  us  an'  read  to  us  ;  an'  us  all  sing 
togedder,  —  sometime  till  de  sun  done  gone 
down  an'  de  dark  come.  Sunday  was  a 
good  day,  dere." 

"  But  you  were  better  off,  were  n't  you, 
Chrismus,  than  other  —  other  "  — 

"  Dan  udder  niggers  ?  Yes,  'm,  a  heap  ! 
I  'se  bet  we  was  !  On'y  next  plantashum  to 
us  dere  was  a  man,  —  s'pose  he  call  hese'f  a 
man,  —  dat  treat  he  people  wus  dan  de  mule, 
or  de  dog ;  yes,  heap  wus  dan  de  dog ! 
Don'  wan'  to  talk  about  him  'fore  Daisy  : 
gib  de  chile  bad  dream  ;  but  all  de  people 
on  de  plantashum  roun'  us  call  our  place 


64 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


*  Hehen^  *  How's  ail  de  folk  down  to  Hehen  V 
dey  say." 

"  Well,  Chrismus  ;  tell  me  something  more 
about  the  meeting  you  used  to  have." 
"  De  church,  Missy  ?  " 

"  Yes,  —  if  that 's  the  name.  You  know 
you  said  last  night  that  the  church  David 
told  about  was  like  yours." 

"  I  tink  so,  from  what  he  tell.  Nex'  Sun- 
day, de  Lord  willin',  I  'se  gwine  to  see." 

"  But  suppose  there 's  snow  on  the  ground, 
Chrismus." 

"  How  deep  will  de  snow  be,  Missy  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  guess  it  won't  be  over  your  head." 

"  Den  I  'se  boun'  to  go  I  An'  you  wan' 
me  to  tell  'boul  im  church,  —  Massa  King 
church  ?  " 

"  Oh,  ma,"  interrupted  Daisy,  who  had 
hitherto  been  watching  very  closely  the  weav- 
ing of  the  wickers,  —  "  Chrismus  told  me  all 
about  his  church  when  we  went  up  on  High 
Hill.  Sing  that  music  to  ma,  Chrismus,  that 
you  sung  to  me ;  do !  " 

"  Chrismus  don'  wan'  to  sing  now,  darlin'. 
'F  I'se  git  singin',  you  see,  why  de  cradle 
don'  git  finish,  dis  night." 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  65 


"  Was  n't  that  some  one  *  rattling  the 
back-door  ?  Yes  ;  there 's  somebody  there, 
surely  !    Chrismus,  go  and  see  I  " 

"  Oh,  Mass'  Dave  !    Dat  you  !  " 

Shaking  and  stamping  the  snow  off,  David 
walked  in. 

"  If  I 'd  thought  it  was  going  to  snow  like 
this,  I  believe  I  wouldn't  have  started  !  Blew 
right  in  my  face  all  the  way  !  Lost  the  track 
ever  so  many  times  !  " 

"  Why,  child,  what  on  earth !  It 's  a  won- 
der you  did  n't  get  lost  and  frozen,  such  a 
night  as  this !  What  made  you  come  ? 
What 's  the  matter  ?  " 

"  I 've  got  a  letter  for  you,  ma." 

"  From  'Bijah  ?    From  Hilton  Head  ?  " 

"  'T  is  n't  his  writing,  but  it  says  <  P.  M. 
please  forward,  in  haste,'  on  the  outside,  and 
I  thought  I 'd  come  right  home  and  bring 
it." 

The  mother  could  not  speak.  She  kissed 
her  son  hurriedly,  and  then,  with  nervous 
hands,  tore  open  the  envelope.  The  rest 
stood  in  silence  while  she  read  it. 

"Oh,  thank  God!  thank  God!  He  isn't 
dead  yet !    My  boy  is  n't  dead !  " 

5 


66  CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


"  Let  me  read  it,  ma." 
"  Yes,  read  it !  read  it  out  loud  !  Thank 
God,  he  isn't  dead!" 
David  read :  — 

"  Head-quarters,  103d  R.  I.  H.  A.  | 
Hilton  Head,  S.  C,  Dec.  1st,  18 6-.  \ 

"  Dear  Madam  :  —  Your  son  gives  me  the 
painful  task  of  informing  you  that  he  is  very- 
sick  with  typhoid  fever.  Let  me  relieve  your^ 
anxieties  as  much  as  possible  by  saying  that 
the  surgeon  does  not  pronounce  his  case  hope- 
less ;  on  the  contrary,  he  encourages  us  to 
think  a  recovery  possible,  if  not  probable. 
"We  all  most  sincerely  hope  that  he  may  re- 
cover, and  he  shall  not  suffer  for  anything 
that  skill  and  care  can  do  for  him. 

"  Three  weeks  ago  Capt.  Greene  led  a  recon- 
noissance  into  the  interior.  He  and  his  party 
suffered  severely  from  fatigue  and  exposure ; 
and,  just  before  reentering  our  lines,  he  was 
attacked  by  a  superior  force  and  very  nearly 
captured.  His  men  say  of  him  that  he 
fought '  like  a  lion '  :  they  attribute  their  safe 
escape  to  his  boldness  and  skill.  Seven  of 
his  men  were  killed,  and  a  large  number 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  67 

wounded,  he  himself  receiving  only  a  slight 
sabre-cut  on  his  head. 

He  wishes  me  to  say  that  he  longs  for  one 
word  from  *  ma  ' ;  thinks  one  of  your  letters 
would  do  him  more  good  than  all  the  doctor's 
J  doses.  It  would  be^out  of  the  question,  your 
cominig  to  see  him,  but  a  letter  would  cer- 
tainly comfort  and  strengthen  him.  He  hopes 
you  will  write  immediately. 

"  You  may  well  believe  that,  as  his  chaplain, 
I  am  rejoiced  to  add  that  he  has  learned  to 
seek  strength  and  comfort  for  his  soul  at  the 
hands  of  the  Great  Physician.  He  does  not 
fear  to  die. 

"  I  have  just  read  to  him  what  I  have  writ- 
ten, and  he  says,  '  Tell  her  that  there  is  a  joy 
and  peace  in  believing,  —  a  peace  that  the 
world  cannot  give.  Tell  her  that  if  it  shall 
please  God  to  make  these  my  last  words  to 
her,  to  Father,  to  David  and  Daisy,  I  say, 
Believe  in  Jesus  !    Believe  in  Jesus  ! ' 

"  He  sends  his  best  love  to  both  his  parents, 
and  to  his  brother  and  sister,  — '  and  to 
ChrismuSj'  he  says.  He  tells  me  that  Chris- 
mus  usedfto  say  to  him,  ^DonH  swear,  Massa ! ' 
and  he  thinks  it  was  that  that  first  set  him 
thinkini?. 


68 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


"  I  have  so  crowded  my  sheet  as  hardly  to 

leave  room  for  adding  that  I  am 

"  Yours  very  sincerely, 

u  y 

For  a  moment  after  David  had  finished 
reading,  the  room  was  Utill.  Mrs.  Greene 
sat  with  her  eyes  staring  vacantly  toward  the 
door :  out  through  the  storm  and  off  over 
leagues  of  land  and  sea,  the  mother's  inner 
sight  sought  the  face  of  her  sick  boy.  Daisy 
had  climbed  into  her  lap,  but  sat  there  un- 
noticed, though  she  pleaded,  "  DonH  look  so, 
mamma ! " 

"  Mass'  Dave,"  said  Chrismus,  suddenly 
picking  up  a  book  from  the  floor,  "  a'n't  dis 
yer  book  a  Prayer-book  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  replied  David,  taking  it ;  "  it 's  the 
one  Mrs.  Rose  gave  me.  How  did  it  come 
here  ?  " 

"  Don'  know  :  neber  min',  now.  Dere 's  a 
prayer  in  dat  book  for  de  sick.  Missy  King 
use  to  say  dat  prayer.  Too  bad  dis  chile 
can't  read  !  You  fin'  it.  Mass'  Dave  ;  de  firs' 
part  de  book,  'mong  de  prayer." 

"  '  For  a  sick  person  '  ;  is  that  it  ?" 

"  'Pears  like.  '  O  Fader  ob  mercy,'  it  begin." 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  69 


"  This  is  the  one,  then.  But  you  can't 
read,  and  I  don't  know  how  to  pray.  Ma, 
won't  you  ?  " 

No  answer.  The  eyes  are  fixed  in  their 
gaze  toward  the  pale  face  far  away. 

"  Mass'  Dave,  you  jes  read  dem  word ! 
Jes  read  dem  good  word!  Git  down  on 
you'  knee  an'  read  de  word,  an'  I'se  help 
you  pray !  " 

A  moment's  hesitation  and  the  prayer  was 
begun.  Slowly  and  softly,  and  as  if  through 
gathering  tears,  David's  voice  uttered  the 
words,  — 

"  O  Father  of  mercies,  and  God  of  all 
comfort,  our  only  help  in  time  of  need ; "  — 
and,  phrase  by  phrase,  in  the  tones  of  an  ear- 
nest, expectant  faith,  Chrismus  followed  him, 
repeating  the  solemn  sentences  :  — 

"  Look  down  from  heaven,  we  humbly 
beseech  thee  behold,  visit,  and  relieve  thy  sick 
servant "  — 

"  Massa  Cap'n  Greene,  de  good  Lord  know 
'im.  He  see  'im  "  — 

"  Look  upon  him  with  the  eyes  of  thy 
mercy;  comfort  him  with  a  sense  of  thy 


70 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


goodness  ;  preserve  him  from  the  temptations 
of  the  enemy ;  give  him  patience  under  his 
affliction ;  and,  in  thy  good  time,  restore  him 
to  health,  and  enable  him  to  lead  the  residue 
of  his  life  in  thy  fear,  and  to  thy  glory.  Or 
else  give  him  grace  so  to  take  thy  visitation, 
that,  after  this  painful  life  ended,  he. may 
dwell  with  thee  in  life  everlasting ;  through 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen." 

"  Oh,  mamma,  dear  mamma,  donH  look 
so !  "  sobbed  Daisy. 

It  needed  but  this,  now  that  the  melt- 
ing tones  of  that  prayer  had  loosed  the  strain 
of  her  hardening  grief,  —  this  sweet  conta- 
gion of  sympathy,  —  to  touch  and  open  the 
sealed  fountains  of  teare.  The  mother  wept 
with  her  child,  w^ith  her  children,  —  for 
David's  eyes  were  overflowing  fast;  and 
Chrismus  had  need  to  bring  his  sleeve  near 
his  eyes,  though  he  spoke  out  bravely,  — 

"  What  you  all  cryin'  for  ?  Spex  de  good 
Lord  hear  dat  prayer  right  off!  Don'  Massa 
Cap'n  sayin  de  letter,  *  Believe  in  Jesus  '  ?  an' 
Jesus  promise  dat  when  two  or  free  are 
gadered  togeder  in  his  name,  he  grant  deir 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  71 


reques'.  Tell  you,  dat  promise  stan'  shure 
Missy  Greene ! " 

The  driving  storm  without  increased  in 
fury,  but  the  storm  within  was  lulling:  pre 
long  there  came  a  blessed  calm. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

N  the  next  Sunday,  Chrismua 
took  his  first  sleigh-ride.  He 
and  David  rode  down  to  Rose- 
dale  to  church.  Mr.  Greene, 
who  had  returned  late  in  the 
week  from  Brighton,  had  said  "  Yes,"  very 
willingly,  when  his  wife  had  suggested  — 

"  David  says  he 'd  like  to  go  to  church 
with  Chrismus ;  had  n't  you  better  let  them 
take  the  sleigh  ?  " 

Chrismus  had  come  to  be  regarded  in  that 
family  as  a  friend,  rather  than  as  a  servant. 
Mrs.  Greene,  although  she  hardly  realized  it 
herself,  looked  up  to  him  with  the  begin- 
nings of  even  a  reverent  love  :  for  he  stood 
nearer  to  her  son's  Jesus  than  she  could  ven- 
ture yet ;  he  had  opened  for  her  the  gates  of 
prayer,  through  which  she  could  look,  though 
she  dared  not  enter  them  ;  he  seemed  to  be  her 
spiritual  superior,  —  as  indeed  he  was,  —  her 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  73 


guide,  her  teacher.  Many  a  time  during  the 
days  which  followed  that  night  of  storm  and 
sorrow,  she  had  even  sat  at  his  feet,  as  it 
were,  and  listened,  while  he  talked  of  Jesus, 
of  the  promises  and  encouragements  and  in- 
vitations of  his  gospel.  She  had  been  en- 
tertaining an  angel  unawares. 

There  are  those  among  my  readers  who 
will  have  sympathy  with  our  brother  church- 
man and  Christian  Chrismus,  in  his  enjoy- 
ment of  the  services  of  the  church  once  more. 
After  weeks  or  months  of  deprivation,  there 
is  something  inexpressibly  enjoyable  in  enter- 
ing again  "  Thy  gates,  O  Sion,"  and  in  taking 
place  and  part  among  them  that  offer  there 
the  sacrifices  of  prayer  and  praise.  Distance 
may  separate  us  from  accustomed  surround- 
ings and  companionships,  but  the  service  is 
the  same ;  and  we  know  that,  at  the  same 
hour,  our  friends  are  using  the  same  words 
with  us,  the  same  Confession  and  Venite,  the 
same  psalter  and  lessons,  the  same  creed, 
prayers,  and  litany,  and  are  blessed  with 
the  same  benediction  of  peace.  We  are 
one  with  them  and  with  "  the  holy  church 
throughout  the  world." 


74 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


Chrismus  wept  tears  of  joy  and  thankful- 
ness, even  at  hearing  the  sentence  — 

"  The  Lord  is  in  his  holy  temple  :  let  all 
the  earth  keep  silence  before  him." 

And  when  the  choir  opened  with  full 
chorus  upon  the  Venite,  set  to  a  chant  with 
whose  every  note  he  was  keenly  familiar,  the 
tears  rolled  down  his  shining  cheeks  like  rain, 
and,  though  his  lips  moved,  he  could  not  sing 
a  word:  and  yet  he  made  melody  in  his 
heart  unto  the  Lord.  In  the  Gloria  Patri  at 
the  close  of  the  psalter,  —  it  happened  to  be 
from  "  .Jackson's  Jubilate  in  F,"  —  he  recog- 
nized the  music  again,  and  joined  in  with 
his  full,  rich  tenor-voice.  The  people  around 
looked  at  him,  they  stared  at  him,  they 
turned  back  and  —  shall  I  say  it  ?  —  frowned 
at  him ;  but  he  sang  it  through.  He  after- 
wards said, — 

"I'se  sorry  to  'fend  'em,  but  I 'se  jes 
could  n'  help  it,  no  more  'n  de  wind  help 
blowin' ;  de  music  sung  itse'f,  an'  I  'se  only 
kep'  still  an'  let  it  sing." 

The  minister  could  not  but  notice  the  fer- 
vor of  this  new  attendant  upon  his  minis- 
trations, and  after  service,  on  passing  out 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  75 


through  the  vestibule,  he  looked  around  to 
find  him.  David  he  knew,  from  having  seen 
him  at  school;  and  on  discovering  Chrismus 
and  David  standing  together  behind  a  door, 
he  went  up  and  spoke  to  them. 

"  David,  is  this  a  friend  of  yours  ?    I  think 
I  saw  you  sitting  with  him  in  church." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  he  lives  with  my  father.  He  is 
a  contraband  that  my  brother  brought  home 
last  summer." 

"And  what  is  your  name,  my  friend?" 
asked  the  minister,  kindly,  turning  to  David's 
companion. 

"  Chrismus,  sah ! "  replied  he,  showing  a 
set  of  teeth  which  the  best  dentist  in  Boston  * 
might  try  in  vain  to  imitate  and  equal. 

"  ^  Chris'mus  '  ?  That 's  a  very  good  name 
for  a  churchman,  as  I  noticed  you  are.  You 
must  have  been  brought  up  in  the  church 
somewhere.    Where  was  your  home  ?  " 

"  I'se  raise  on  'Disto  Islan',  sah  ;  Port  Royal, 
sah!  My  massa  was  a  very  good  man,  an' 
my  missis  too,  sah.    He  name  was  King." 

"  '.King '  ?  I  wonder  if — ;  very  likely  it  is 
the  same.  —  David,  you  and  Chrismus  come 
home  with  me  this  noon,  and  take  a  little 


76  CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


lunch,  before  Sunday-school.    I  think  it  quite 
possible  that  I  used  to  know  this  Mr.  King  "  — 
"  Use  to  know  my  Massa  King!  Bress 
de  Lord  I " 

After  a  frugal  lunch  in  the  minister's  study, 
the  minister  said,  — 

"  I'm  quite  sure  I  used  to  know  your 
*  massa'  well.    Was  his  name  Henry?" 

"  I  'se  tink  so,  sah." 

"  And  was  he  tall  and  thin,  sallow-faced, 
rather  solemn,  —  very  black  hair  and  eyes?" 

"  Dat 's  Massa  King,  sah,  perzacly  !  An' 
you  know  'im,  sah  ?  " 

"  *  Know  him '  ?  Why,  Hen'  King  was 
*  my  classmate  and  chum  at  Yale !  We  used 
to  call  him  '  the  Rooster,'  —  or  rather,  others 
did;  it  always  vexed  him,  and  I  loved  him 
too  well  to  think  of  hurting  his  feelings. 
Wife,"  (calling  up  the  stairs,)  "  here 's  a  con- 
traband 'that  came  from  our  old  friend  King's 
plantation,  at  Port  Royal !  Well,  I  declare  ! 
If  this  is  n't  strange  !  " 

The  bell  rang  for  Sunday-school  that  noon 
sooner  than  was  wished  by  either  the  min- 
ister or  his  southern  guest.  After  church, 
however,  —  the  afternoon  service  followed  the 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  77 


Sunday-school  immediately,  —  after  church 
David  and  Chrismus  were  taken  to  the  rec- 
tory to  dine ;  for  the  rector  wanted  to  talk 
further  with  Chrismus  about  Mr.  King.  But 
the  colored  servant,  "  Mother  Gray,"  claimed 
the  contraband  as  her  special  guest  at  table. 

"  The  laws  !  goodness  sakes  alive  I  Was 
tyou  a  slave,  then  ?  " 

"  Yes,  'm  ;  I  'se  s'pose  so." 

"  Was  you  whipped  an'  branded  ?  's  yer 
back  all  scars  ?  " 

"  No,  aunty ;  de  Lord  gib  dis  nigger  a  rale 
good  massa,  a  Christium  man,  dat  neber  flog 
nobody  'less  dey  'sarve  it.  I  'se  seen  my  mas- 
sa cry,  aunty,  'cause  he  had  to  flog  a  boy." 

"  Well,  now,  that  air  beats  all  I  ever  heerd 
afore  !  I  allers  heerd  tell  that  them  marsters 
was  the  cruellest  men  in  the  world." 

"  Dis  one  was  a  'ception,  aunty.  Dere 
was  n'  anudder  massa  on  'Disto,  nor  nowhars 
roun',  but  what  'buse  he  people,  —  some  bad 
an'  some  wustes.  But  our  massa,  I  'se  a- 
tellin'  yer,  was  a  Christium  man." 

"  Well,  'ligion  does  do  wonders,  don't  it  ?  " 

After  dinner,  the  minister  having  invited 
Chrismus  into  his  study  with  David,  Mrs. 


78  CONTRABAND  CHRISTJMAS. 


Rector  came  in  too :  they  sat  there  until 
almost  dark,  talking.  Chrismus  was  en- 
couraged to  tell  everything  he  knew  of  his 
master  and  mistress,  to  describe  plantation- 
life,  especially  the  church  services  at  which 
"  Massa  King  read  de  service,  an'  a  sermum, 
gen'ally,  and  Missy  King  play  de  melody- 
*mum  in  de  kier,  and  Chrismus  sing." 

"  I  presume  you  had  good  music,  Chris- 
mus ;  you  colored  people  are  very  fond  of 
music.  Can  you  think  of  the  names  of  some 
of  the  -tunes  or  chants  you  used  to  sing  ? 
Wife,  did  n't  you  hear  Chrismus  join  in,  in 
the  Gloria  Patri^  this  morning  ?  That  was 
Jackson's,  you  know.  I  fancy  Mrs.  King  had 
good  taste  in  church  music." 

"  Spex  you  got  me  dis  time,  sah.  I  'se  done 
forgot  de  name,  'f  I  'se  eber  knowd  any.  Las' 
Chris'mas  we  sing  a  new  carol,  an'  a  Te 
Deum  dat  Missy  King  call  'Jacksom,'  I 
b'lieve." 

David  interrupts  the  conversation  :  — 
"  Chrismus,  I  guess  we 'd  better  start  for 
home.    It 's  'most  dark,  and  the  mare 's  whin- 
ing at  the  gate  "  — 

"  An'  Missy  Greene  '11  be  wonderin'  what 
de  raison  we  done  gone  so  long." 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  79 


The  minister's  wife,  "  fixing"  David's  wool- 
len comforter  about  his  ears,  asked,  — 

"  Have  n't  you  got  some  brothers  and  sis- 
ters at  home  ?  " 

"  Only  a  little  sister,  ma'am." 

"  What 's  her  name  ?  " 

"  Her  name  is  Margaret,  but  we  always 
call  her  *  Daisy.'  " 

"  '  Daisy  '  ?  That 's  a  sweet,  pretty  name 
for  a  little  girl.  Can't  you  bring  her  with 
you  to  our  '  Tree  '  ?  You  heard  the  notices 
in  church,  and  in  Sunday-school  too,  about 
our  Christmas  celebrations.  Chrismus  will 
want  to  come,  surely  "  — 

"  Chrismus  boun^  to  come.  Missis !  " 

"  Well,  come,  all  of  you.  Bring  your  father 
and  mother,  David.  I 'm  sure  they  would 
be  pleased ;  and  Daisy  would  be  delighted,  I 
know.    Now,  you  '11  come,  won't  you  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  ma'am.    I  '11  ask  'em." 

David  and  Chrismus  had  enough  to  talk 
about  that  night  after  they  reached  home. 
And,  as  the  result  of  David's  repeating  the 
invitation  of  the  minister  and  his  wife  to  the 
whole  family  for  Christmas,  listen  to  a  brief 
conversation  in  the  dark  :  — 


80  CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


"  'Bijah,  are  you  asleep  ?  " 
«  No." 

"  Suppose  we  all  o-o." 
"  Go  where  ?  " 

"  Why,  with  David,  Thursday." 

"  Where 's  Dave  going  Thursday  ?  " 

"  You  are  asleep,  'Bijah,  —  half  asleep, 
anyhow!  You  know  what  I  mean:  down 
to  Rosedale,  to  see  what  they  do,  Christmas." 

"  Do  you  want  to  go.  Wealthy  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  know  't  would  please  Daisy  to 
see  all  the  things  and  hear  the  music,  —  hear 
the  children  sing  "  — 

"  Do  you  want  to  go  ?  " 

«  Well,  yes,  'Bijah,  I  doP 

"  Then  we  '11  go.    Good  night !  "  , 

«  Good  night  I  " 


CHAPTER  X. 


RE  AT  preparations  for  Christ- 
mas at  Rosedale.  Greens,  — 
cart-loads  !  and  about  three 
hundred  thumbs  and  fingers  to 
tie  them.  The  church  to  be 
dressed,  and  the  Sunday-school  room  to  be 
dressed,  and  the  tree  to  be  set  up,  and  cookies 
to  be  cooked,  and  candy-bags  to  be  filled,  and 
corn  to  be  popped,  and  all  sorts  of  presents 
to  be  bought  or  made,  and  gathered  in  and 
hung  to  the  fruitful  branches  of  the  wonder- 
ful tree ;  and  class-mottoes  and  emblems  to 
be  prepared  for  the  "  offerings,"  and  musicy  — 
I  must  n't  forget  to  mention  that.  The  chok 
have  a  new  Te  Deum  and  a  new  carol,  and 
a  new  jubilate  to  practise  at,  and  the  Sun- 
day-school choir  have  a  new  cantata  to  an- 
tiphonize,  and  their  hymn,  "  While  shep- 
herds watched,"  which  they  always  sing  at 


62 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


Christmas,  to  fit  to  a  new  tune.  Ki !  as 
Chrismus  would  say,  lots  to  be  done ! 

Only  one  invitation  was  needed,  from 
Mary  Martin  to  our  friend  David,  to  persuade 
him  to  "  come  and  help  tie  greens."  If  all 
"the  boys  and  girls  that  wanted  to  help  at 
this  had  been  allowed  to  come,  there  would 
have  been  altogether  "  too  many  cooks  "  ;  —  it 
was  esteemed  a  great  privilege  to  be  invited 
to  "  tie  greens."  Now,  our  Mary  had  her 
own  reasons  for  encouraging  David :  being 
feminine,  she  was,  of  course,  something  of  a 
flirt ;  and  she  was,  at  this  time,  trying  to  tease 
an  avowed  admirer  of  hers,  a  certain  Timothy, 
who  was  a  slow  but  susceptible  young  man, 
and  an  easy  victim  of  the  gi*een-eyed  mon- 
ster, Jealousy.  Girls,  it  is  very  naughty  in 
you  to  deceive  the  Davids  in  order  that  you 
may  tease  the  Timothys  !  But  there 's  no 
use  scolding  you  :  one  might  as  well  scold 
sP  pussy-cat  playing  with  a  mouse. 

Mary  had  asked  the  superintendent  if  she 
might  invite  David,  and  he, —  haven't  1 
named  him  yet  ?  —  he,  that  is,  Mr.  Kennett, 
replied  to  her,  — 

"  Certainly ;  perhaps  we  can  get  him  in- 


TYING  G KEENS.    Pa^e  83 


f 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  83 


terested.  He  came  to  church  last  Sunday. 
Ygs ;  invite  him." 

Felicity!  David  stripping  greens  for  his 
adorable  Mary  to  tie  I  — himself  as  "  green/' 
unconsciously,  as  the  freshest  laurel-leaf  in 
the  wreath  under  Mary's  fingers.  That  very 
evening,  although  the  bright-eyed  mischief 
had  really  intended  to  take  Dave  as  her 
cavalier,  Timothy,  that  abominable  Timothy, 
contrived  to  find  her  shawl  and  "  cloud  "  at 
the  propitious  moment,  and  to  secure  a  "  yes, 
thank  you,"  before  Dave  knew  what  was  go- 
ing on.    Despair ! 

How  does  it  happen,  —  I  speak  in  the  name 
of  the  lords  of  creation,  —  how  does  it  hap- 
pen that  our  first  "  flames  "  are  almost  always 
lighted  prematurely,  that  our  first  "  sweet- 
hearts "  are  generally  a  year  or  two  too  old 
for  us  ? 

Ah,  David  Greene ! 

Ohj  Timothy  Slowe! 

Naughty  Mary  Martin! 

"  Missy  Greene,"  said  Chrismus,  in  a  per- 
suasive tone  of  voice,  on  Wednesday  morn-, 
ing,  —  "  Missy  Greene." 


84 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


"  Well,  Chrismus,  what  is  it  ?  " 

"  Down  in  *  heben,'  Missy  Greene,  dey  al- 
lers  hab  great  time  in  de  holiday.  No  work 
dat  week,  'tween  Chris'mas  and  New  Year, 
go  visitin',  stay  home,  jes  you  please  ;  hab  a 
dance  ebery  night.  Wonder  whar  my  Flo' 
dance  dis  year!" 

"I'm  afraid  you'll  never  see  your  Flora 
again,  Chrismus." 

*^I'se  'fraid,  too.  Missis.  But  yer  see,  I  'se 
got  nuffin  to  do  'bout  it :  de  good  Lord,  He 
take  care !  Peace  come,  an'  I  'se  gwine  to 
fin'  'er,  please  de  Lord  ! " 

"  Great  times,  then,  for  the  colored  folks 
at  the  holidays,  you  say." 

"  Yes,  Missis,  de  bes'  kin'  ob  time  !  Visit 
an'  present,  —  all  de  people  hab  some  kin' 
ob  present.  All  de  men  pay  deir  respec'  to 
Massa  King,  Chris'mas  mornin',  an'  all  de 
women  to  Missy  King;  an'  dere  on  de  piazza, 
two  big  pile,  high  as  dat!  Eber  so  many 
bundle,  —  poun'  o'  tea  for  Maumy  Sue,  nud- 
der  poun'  for  Aunty  Jane  ;  poun'  o'  baccer 
for  Uncle  Sam,  nudder  poun'  for  Daddy  Joe  ; 
tree  yard  flannum,  new  cap,  new  coat,  jack- 
knife,  hatchet,  whitewash,  an'  glass  an'  putty, 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


85 


to  fix  up  cabin :  can'  begin  to  tell  yer  all  de 
difF'ent  present,  but  eberybody  git  somet'n'. 
Den  Missy  King  say,  '  Clar  'way  dere,  front, 
an'  call  de  chillin' ! '  an'  dey  come  runnin' 
to  de  house  like  a  flock  o'  chick'n.  Den 
Missy  King  frow  out  de  sugar-plum.  Ki . 
how  de  picaninny  scrabble  roun',  ober  an' 
ober,  all  in  a  heap,  bunt  dey  head  togedder, 
roll  ober  one  anudder  an'  under  one  anud- 
der,  an'  holler  an'  scream  an'  laugh  an'  cry, 
swaller  de  sugar-plum  down  de  wrong  way, 
—  My  !  —  Den  dey  all  go  to  deir  quarter, 
an'  when  de  bell  ring,  all  form  a  'cessiom  an' 
go  to  de  chapel." 

"  Perhaps  you  would  n't  object  to  a  present 
this  Christmas.  You  ought  to  have  some- 
thing :  yoiir  birthday,  too." 

"  I'se  tinkin  'bout  dat  same  ting,  Missis, 
an'  ef  Missy  please,  —  Chrismus  don'  wan' 
to  be  too  bold,  but  it's  jes  heah,  an'  deres 
no  use  a-talkin'  roun'  de  bush, —  I'se  like 
mighty  well.  Missy  Greene,  to  hab  a  turkeyP 

"  'A  turkey  '  ?  What  would  you  do  with 
a  turkey  ?  " 

"  Carry  him  down  an'  gib  him  to  de  minis- 
ter, dis  af  ernoon,  when  I  's«  go  af'er  Mass' 
Dave." 


86 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


"I'm  glad  you  thought  of  it,  Chrismus. 
You  shall  have  the  fattest  one  there  is  left." 

"  Oh,  tank  you,  Missy  Greene,  tank  you! 
De  good  Lord  gib  you  merry  Chris'mas,  dis 
year,  an'  all  you'  life  I  " 

"  I  hope  she  will  get  it  in  time,  chaplain  I 
You  see  they  never  have  thought  much  of 
Christmas-day  at  home ;  in  fact,  I 've  heard 
father  rather  ridicule  the  idea,  say  that  it  was 
Romish,  childish,  and  so  on.  But  I  should 
judge  from  ma's  letters  that  Chrismus,  —  you 
remember  that  bright,  intelligent  fellow  that 
came  from  one  of  the  'Disto  plantations  ;  who 
was  my  servant  several  months  ;  I  took  him 
on  North  with  me  last  summer,  —  he  has  been 
giving  the  folks  some  new  notions,  I  should 
think.  And  now,  chaplain,  you  will  have 
some  kind  of  a  service  to-morrow,  won't  you  ? 
There 's  fifty,  here  in  the  hospital,  that  I  know 
would  be  glad  to  keep  Christmas-day  in  a 
Christian  way." 

"  Well,  Captain,  if  the  surgeon  is  willing, 
I  shall  be  glad  to  celebrate  the  Saviour's 
birthday ;  but  you  know  that  we  must  be 
careful  of  these  sick  folks:  the  doctor  may 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  87 


think  a  service  rather  too  exciting.  And 
speaking  of  excitement,  your  cheeks  are  quite 
too  red,  my  dear  fellow ;  you  had  better  lie 
down  awhile ;  talked  enough  for  once,  I 
guess." 

"  '  Guess,'  chaplain  ?  We  '  reckon^  you 
know,  now." 

"  Daisy,  look  out  the  window,  quick !  I 
<     b'lieve  I  heard  our  sleigh-bells." 

"  They  've  come,  ma  !  they  've  come ! 
Father's  gone  out  to  get  Rhody  ! "  How 
careless  I  am  about  naming  my  characters, 
my  dramatis  personce.  "  Rhody "  is  the 
name  of  "  the  old  mare." 

"  And  Bose  is  jumping  all  over  'em  !  And 
Dave 's  coming  in  with  a  basket.  What 's 
he  got  in  that  basket,  ma  ?  " 

"  You  '11  see  to-morrow  morning,  darling." 

"  Has  he  been  to  Mr.  Santa  Claus'  house  ?  " 

"  You  must  n't  ask  too  many  questions, 
little  Miss  'Quisitive!" 

"  Got  a  letter  for  you,  ma !  "  exclaims  Da- 
vid, unbuttoning  his  overcoat;  postmarked 
*  Dec.  7  ' ;  —  long  time  coming.  Don't  tease, 
Daisy !    You  '11  see  the  inside  of  the  basket, 


88 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


— when  it 's  empty,  just  as  soon  as  it 's  empty. 
Dave  wants  to  hear  what  mamma's  letter 
says  about  brother  'Bijah.  Short  and  sweet, 
a'n't  it,  ma  ?  " 

"  Yes,  David ;  he 's  getting  better,  the 
chaplain  says.    Read  it  yourself." 

"  Dear  Madam  :  —  I  wrote  you  briefly, 
three  days  since,  stating  that  the  surgeon  had 
pronounced  your  son  out  of  danger.  I  have 
now  to  add  that  he  is  slowly  recovering,  and, 
except  the  bare  possibility  of  a  relapse,  there 
is  nothing  now  to  fear. 

"  Having  an  unusual  number  of  letters 
^  to  write  for  my  sick  boys,  must  be  my 
apology  for  brevity." 

«Dat  'bout  Massa  Cap'n?"  asks  Chris- 
mus,  coming  in.  "  Hab  a  toof  for  turkey 
hese'f,  a-reckon,  dis  Chris'mas :  oughter  be 
turkey  enough,  too,  roun'  dere,  —  'less  de 
blue-coat  done  steal  'em  all." 

"  Another  letter,"  says  Dave  to  his  father, 
as  he  came  in  from  the  barn.  "  Chaplain 
says  he 's  '  recovering. '  " 

"  Well,  Dave,  that 's   good  news !  We 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  89 


shall  have  a  merry  Chris'mas  all  round  this 
time,  I  guess." 

"Yes,  'Bijah,  thank  God!  I'm  perfectly., 
easy  about  him  now."  (Mrs.  G.  speaks.)  "  I 
have  n't  been  ivorried,  you  know,  any  of  the 
time ;  I 've  been  sure,  somehow,  that  he 
would  get  well ;  —  though  I  could  n't  help 
wishing  a  letter  would  come.  This  has 
been  seventeen  days  on  the  way." 

"  I  don't  know  what  reason  you  had  to  be 
sure,  Wealthy." 

"  Some  other  time,  'Bijah,  I  will  tell  you 
why  I  have  been  so  sure." 

"  'T  was  the  night  before  Christmas,  and  all  through  the 
house, 

Not  a  creature  was  stirring,"  — 

Except  David.  He  had  received  permission 
to  personate  Santa  Claus,  and  had  been  pro- 
vided with  a  five-dollar  gold-piece  from  his 
mother's  hid  treasures,  with  which  to  pur- 
chase presents  for  the  whole  family.  He  had 
been  to  Providence,  and  had  visited  half  the 
stores  in  Westminster  Street.  First,  how- 
ever, he  had  sold  his  gold,  like  a  born- Yan- 
kee, and  added  a  dollar  and  a  half  to  his 


90 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


capital.  We  shall  see  in  the  morning  what 
he  bought.  Now,  in  the  still  midnight,  he  is 
filling  the  stockings. 

"  Lucky  that  father  wears  big  stockings ! 
And  lucky  that  I  had  a  couple  of  dollars  of 
ray  own  saved  up.  I  can  use  the  old  skates 
another  winter.  When  a  feller  goes  into  the 
Santa  Claus  line  of  business,  he  finds  it  takes 
consid'able  money,  to  do  it  up  handsome. 
No,  Miss  Mary,  quite  contrary,  your  *  little 
Davy '  don't  spend  any  money*on  you^  this 
time  ;  Tim  may,  if  he  wants  to.  Now  that 's 
a  pretty  good  pile  of  stuff  for  eight  dollars 
and  a  half,  I  say.  Now  for  the  stockings  : 
father's  first,  then  ma's,  then  Daisy's,  then 
Chrismus's.  First  time  stockings  ever  hung 
up  in  this  house  ;  and  they  shall  be  well  filled, 
hey,  old  Santa  Claus?  What's  that?  hail 
against  the  windows  ?  Hope  it  won't  storm 
to-morrow ! " 


CHAPTER  XL 

HE  first  chickadee  that  woke 
in  the  gray  dawn  of  Christmas 
morning,  after  jerking  his  head 
to  the  right  and  then  to  the 
left,  remarked  to  himself, — 
"  Small  chance  for  breakfast  this  morn- 
ing. Chickadee-dee  !  Everything 's  covered 
with  ice  !  Chickadee-dee  !  Hurry  up,  my 
sun,  and  melt  out  a  bud  or  two !  Chicka- 
dee-dee ! " 

An  early  squirrel,  after  having  rubbed  the 
sleep  out  of  his  eyes  with  the  end  of  his  tail, 
looked  out  from  his  hole  in  a  hollow  tree,  and 
says  he,  — 

Slippery !  I  must  sharpen  my  nails  be- 
fore I  go  visiting  this  morning.  A  feller 
might  slip  up  on  these  smooth  branches  and 
hear  something  drop  !  " 

And   then,  before   long,  the   sun  came 


92 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


slowly  up  and  looked  over  the  hill-tops,  and, 
to  his  Surprise,  found  the  trees  all  dressed  in 
diamonds. 

"  Oh,  I  forgot,"  said  he  to  himself ;  "  this 
is  Christmas-day,  is  n't  it  ?  " 

Christmas-day !  of  all  the  year  the  bright- 
est, for  on  this  day  arose  the  Sun  of  Right- 
eousness. 

"  Risen  with  healing  in  his  wings, 
Light  and  life  to  all  he  brings. 
Hail  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  ! 
Hail  the  heaven-born  Prince  of  Peace." 

Merry  is  the  chickadee,  and  jolly  is  the 
squirrel ;  but  neither  is  so  happy,  this  Christ- 
n>as  morning,  as  little  Daisy  Greene.  She 
and  Chrismus  had  made  a  bargain  overnight 
that  which  ever  waked  first  should  wake  the 
other ;  and  Chrismus,  dreaming  of  the  home 
holiday,  had  laughed  himself  awake  at  some- 
thing particularly  funny,  before  the  day  had 
fairly  begun  to  peep.  So,  as  soon  as  there 
was  light  enough  to  see,  he  crept  down  stairs 
softly,  in  his  stocking-feet,  and  went  to 
Daisy's  "  crib."  One  touch  was  enough  :  in 
a  moment  the  house  was  ringing  with  "  Mer- 
ry Chris'masI   Merry  Chris'mas  !  "  David 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


93 


had  told  her  that  this  was  the  salutation  of 
the  day,  and  that  if  she  "  wished  "  anybody 
first,  why,  she  was  "the  best  feller."  No 
more  sleeping,  you  may  be  sure  of  that  ! 
But  presently  David's  voice  from  the  top  of 
the  stairs,  — 

"  I  say,  down  there  I  Let  them  stockings 
alone  till  breakfast !  Daisy,  you  rogue,  don't 
you  touch  one  of  'em  I  " 

Hard  work  to  wait ;  but  everybody  was 
in  a  hurry  for  breakfast  that  morning;  and 
Chrismus  was  on  such  good  terms  with  "  dat 
cookin'-stove,"  that  he  reported  the  tea-kettle 
"  done  bile"  in  fifteen  minutes  ;  and  the  fam- 
ily was  at  breakfast  before  our  friend  chick- 
adee had  left  his  perch. 

Now  this  is  Chapter  XL,  and  as  my  book 
does  n't  hold  but  XIL,  I  must  crowd  my 
words  close  tosfether. 

David  —  "  Oldest  first !  Here 's  your 
stocking,  father." 

A  pair  of  wool-lined  buckskin  driving- 
gloves  ;  an  Emerson's  razor-strop ;  a  bunch 
of  toothpicks  ;  a  stick  of  candy ;  five  pea- 
nuts, done  up  in  a  ti'iple-sheet  of  the  "  New 
York  Herald." 


94 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


"  Now,  ma,  it 's  your  turn." 

Daisy  — "  Oh  dear,  I  can't  wait  so  long ! 
Please^  Dave,  let  me  open  mine  now !  " 

Mrs.  G.  —  "  Yes,  David,  let  Daisy  take  her 
turn  now  ;  I  can  wait  just  as  well." 

—  A  blue-eyed  doll,  dressed  in  red,  white, 
and  blue  ;  a  cornucopia  of  candy  ;  a  little  bit 
of  a  gold  ring  in  a  box ;  a  crying  baby ;  a 
monkey  on  a  stick ;  a  pound  of  candy ;  a 
picture-book ;  a  pint  of  peanuts.  Rapture  ! 
"  \ii  "  —  Chrismus  could  nH  wait.  That  plump 
stocking  proved  too  great  a  temptation. 
Picking  at  one  end  of  the  paper  bundle 
uppermost,  he  had  discovered  something  of  a 
woollen  nature,  and,  taking  advantage  of 
Daisy's  exclamations  of  delight,  he  had  turned 
his  back  and  pulled  it  out.  It  was  a  long, 
thick,  close-knit,  bright-red  "  comforter,"  just 
the  thing  for  cold  mornings  ;  and,  next  to 
this,  he  found  a  pair  of  shaggy  mittens  ;  and 
next,  a  compound  jack-knife,  which  opened 
out  into  Various  useful  tools  for  tinkering; 
and  next,  a  "  Frank  Leslie,"  which  contained 
a  large  picture  of  Port  Royal;  and  last,  a 
great  piece  of  molasses  candy  done  up  in  an 
original  package.    "  Ki"  was  uttered,  not 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


95 


merely  by  tongue,  but  by  teeth,  two  goodly 
rows,  and  by  the  whites  of  his  eyes,  and  by 
a  general  shinyness,  not  to  say  radiance  or 
refulgence  or  transplendency  of  countenance. 

"  Now,  ma  !  "  and  Dave's  eyes  danced  with 
additional  twinkles. 

—  A  nice  lace-collar,  with  cuffs  to  match  ; 
a  pair  of  warm  gloves ;  a  small  bottle  of 
cologne  water,  and  a  paper  of  pins.  From 
the  toe  of  the  stocking  came  a  small,  flat 
package  which,  on  being  opened,  proved  to 
be  a  letter. 

"  Why,  David  !  What  does  this  mean  ? 
When  did  this  come?  It's  'Bijah's  writ- 
ing !  " 

She  did  not  wait  for  answers  to  her  ques- 
tions, but  at  once  opened  and  read  the  pre- 
cious letter.  And,  as  she  read,  tears  came 
into  her  eyes,  half-blinding  her ;  and  yet  she 
smiled,  for  these  were  tears  of  joy. 

"  It  came  yesterday,  ma,  with  the  chap- 
lain's letter,  in  the  same  mail,  but  I  thought 
I 'd  give  you  that  first  ;  and  then,  as  that 
turned  out  such  a  good  one,  I  thought  you 
could  wait  overnight  for  this  one,  't  would 
be  such  a  tip-top  present  for  your  stocking; 


96 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


and  I  knew  I  had  n't  much  else  to  put  in, 
—  not  so  much  as  I  wished  I  had." 

"  You  need  n't  make  any  excuses,  David, 
for  it  has  all  turned  out  just  right.  'Bijah  says 
here  that  he  hopes  we  shall  happen  to  get 
his  letter  Christmas-day ;  and  hear  this  "  :  — 

"  Here 's  a  dollar  for  Daisy ;  it 's  enough 
to  sweeten  every  tooth  in  her  little  mouth. 
And  here 's  a  greenback  V  for  Dave  to  buy 
as  good  a  pair  of  skates  as  he  wants.  And 
here 's  another  V  for  Chrismus  to  buy  what 
he  likes." 

"  You  see  ma 's  got  the  best  stocking  of 
ail." 

"  Read  the  letter,  ma ;  read  the  letter !  " 

"  I  can't ;  there 's  a  secret  in  it.  But  he 
says  he  is  getting  better  fast,  sits  up  a  little 
longer  every  day,  and  means  to  eat '  a  grand 
good  Christmas  dinner.'  " 

"  Ki !  'Pears  like  dis  gwine  to  be  a  bery 
merry  Chris'mas ! " 

"  Would  n't  you  rather  be  back  in  '  heben  ' 
to-day  ?  " 

"  Tell  de  truf,  Missis,  I  'se  kinder  wan'  ter 
see  Flo',  an'  dat 's  a  fac' !  But  dat 's  de  only 
'ception." 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


97 


"  Now  we  must  all  hurry.  It 's  'most  eight 
o'clock,  and  we  ought  to  start  at  nine." 

I  must  rely  on  the  fertile  imaginations  of 
my  readers  to  carry  out  the  programme  of 
this  Christmas-day  at  Rosedale.  Our  church 
services  are  nearly  the  same  everywhere  ;  we 
have  talked  over  the  preparations  which  were 
being  made  for  the  children's  festival ;  the 
loaded  sleigh  has  started  by  this  time  on  its 
easy  passage  down  the  Cumberland  hills: 
and  so  I  am  sure  you  can  fancy  out  the  events 
of  the  day,  Christmas-tree  and  all.  But 
there  was  one  event  that  you  will  hardly 
guess.  I  suppose  I  must  tell  you.  Now 
don't  you  look  on  ahead !  Don't  you  turn 
the  leaf  for  even  a  glance ! 

There  was  a  secret,  you  know,  in  the  Cap- 
tain's letter  to  his  mother.  There  were 
several  matters  that  she  chose  to  keep  to  her- 
self for  awhile.  Her  son  had  written  out  his 
heart  to  her,  and  she  knew  he  had  meant 
most  of  it  for  her  alone.  His  father  would  be 
disinclined  to  appreciate  what  the  son  could 
write,  and  the  mother  could  now  understand 
about  the  Saviour  and  Comforter,  the  Hearer 

7 


98 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


of  prayer,  the  Healer  of  sin-sick  souls ;  and 
she  knew  that  none,  except  Chrismus,  could 
share  with  her  those  tears  of  joy.  But  there 
was  a  secret  besides,  —  a  capital  secret ;  and 
she  would  have  told  it  right  out  at  first  had 
she  not  read  the  warning,  "  Keep  this  to  your- 
self until  you  hear  from  me  again  ;  I  '11  try  to 
find  out  where  she  has  gone." 

"  Wait  awhile.  I  'm  going  to  tell  the  secret 
in  my  own  way." 

During  the  morning-service,  while  the 
minister's  family  were  at  church,  —  except 
Mother  Gray,  a  Baptist,  w^ho  was  roast- 
ing the  turkey  that  Chrismus  brought,  —  there 
came  a  knock  at  the  kitchen-door. 

"  Does  the  minister  live  here  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  but  he 's  gone  to  church." 

"  I 've  got  a  letter  for  him.  May  I  come 
in  and  wait  ?  " 

"  Sartin  ;  walk  in.  Set  you  down  by  the 
fire  ;  take  off  your  bonnet.  Have  you  come 
fur  ?  " 

"  Pve  walked  from  a  place  they  call  Ftuc- 
ket,  —  three  or  four  miles,  I  should  think.  I 
came  from  Boston  this  morning." 

"  Do  you  live  to  Boston  ? 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 


99 


"  No,  aunty  ;  I  have  n't  been  there  long." 

"  Got  a  letter,  eh  ?  Well,  it 's  mos'  time 
for  church  to  be  out.  Declare  !  it 's  half-after 
twelve  now !  'n'  I  expect  a  young  man  here 
to  eat  dinner  with  me,  an'  things  a'n't  cleaned 
up  a  bit  I  " 

"  Let  me  help  you,  aunty.  I 'm  warm 
enough  now." 

"  That 's  a  good  soul !  I  wish  you  would. 
I 've  got  that  gravy  to  make  ;  —  folks  here 
nriighty  pertikler  'bout  gravy.  An'  you  shall 
have  a  good  dinner,  if  you  '11  stay." 

Another  knock  at  the  door. 

"  Won't  you  open  the  door.  Miss  ?  my 
hands  is  all  flour." 

Chris  mus  and  Flora  stood  face  to  face  ! 

"  De  Lord  done  been  too  good  dis  time ! 
too  good  to  dis  poor  mis'able  sinner,  dat  don' 
'sarve  no  big  mercy  like  dis ! " 


CHAPTER  XIL 

XTRACT  from  the  Captain's 
letter  to  his  mother :  — 
"  Chrismus  must  have  told  you 
about  his  Flora,  I 'm  sure  :  he 
CO  aid  n't  help  talking  about  her. 
Well :  I 've  just  heard  through  one  of  the 
people  that  live  on  the  old  plantation,  that 
Flora  has  gone  North  with  an  officer's  wife  ; 
and  that  she  had  a  letter  to  some  one  who 
would  help  her.  She  means  to  find  Chris- 
mus if  she  can,  my  informant  said ;  but  don't 
tell  him  till  I  write  again.  I  'II  try  to  find  out 
where  she  has  gone." 

But  Mrs.  Greene  had  n't  long  to  keep  her 
secret,  it  seems. 

The  following  is  the  letter  that  Flora  had 
for  the  minister :  — 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  101 

"  Dear  Classmate  and  Chum  :  —  This 
letter  will  be  handed  you  (God  willing)  by 
*  Flora.'  She  has  been  my  wife's  maid,  and 
would  remain  with  us  ;  but  my  "affairs  are  all 
in  confusion,  and,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  am  un- 
able to  afford  the  maintenance  of  unneces- 
sary servants.  Flora  chooses  to  go  North, 
mainly,  I  conclude,  because  her  lover  is  there, 
somewhere,  —  a  very  worthy  fellow,  whom  I 
hope  she  may  succeed  in  finding.  He  was 
taken  to  the  North  last  summer  by  a  Rhode 
Island  officer,  —  at  least,  so  Flora  has  heard. 
How  she  will  contrive  to  get  to  her  Canaan, 
I  cannot  tell ;  but  as  she  is  very  intelligent 
and  capable,  I  think  she  will  succeed.  I  can 
only  assist  her  in  getting  through  our  lines 
on  her  way  to  Hilton  Head.  Flora  is  a  girl 
of  unusual  merit,  —  a  thorough  Christian,  I 
believe.  We  are  sorry  to  part  with  her  ;  and 
the  little  one  whose  nurse  she  has  been  will 
almost  break  her  heart  at  losing  her.  Am  I 
asking  too  much  of  an  old  friend  in  begging 
that  you  will  befriend  Flora,  if  you  can  ? 
There  ought  to  be  a  little  money  to  my  credit 
at  my  agent's  in  Newport ;  —  you  remember, 


102 


CONTKABAND  CHKISTMAS. 


perhaps,  that  I  used  to  own  a  cottage  there. 
I  enclose  an  order  upon  him  for  five  hundred 
dollars.  Be  so  kind  as  to  get  this,  —  if  you 
are  willing  to  touch  a  rebel's  property,  —  and 
act  as  Flora's  banker  for  awhile.  If  she  finds 
Chrismus  (her  lover),  she  should  marry  him 
and  divide  with  him. 

"  I  will  not  speak  of  the  great  matters  which 
make  you  and  me  civil  enemies.  We  were 
once  friends,  dear  friends,  to  each  other,  and, 
so  far  as  I  am  concerned,  this  horrible  war 
divides  us  only  in  regard  to  externals.  I 
would  gladly  do  for  you  that  which  I  ask 
you  to  do  for  me ;  for  I  am  now,  as  ever, 
"  Yours  sincerely, 

"  Henry  King." 

And  now,  readers  mine,  we  will  at  once 
begin  to  "  narrer  "  ;  —  if  you  don't  know  what 
that  means,  watch  the  process,  when  you 
have  an  opportunity,  of  finishing  off  the  toe 
of  a  stocking. 

Every  Sunday^  no  matter  what  the  weather 
may  be,  "  Rhody "  stands  under  the  shed 
all  day,  behind  the  church  at  Rosedale.  The 


CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS.  103 


new  year  had  not  added  many  days  to  its 
calendar,  before  Mrs.  Greene  had  knelt  at 
the  font  for  baptism.  Not  long  after,  she 
brought  her  little  Daisy  to  be  baptized.  It 
was  noticed  that  the  little  one's  white  dress 
was  tied  at  the  neck  with  a  faded  blue  ribbon. 
The  mother  awaits  now  her  son's  expected 
return  on  leave,  to»be  confirmed  with  him. 
David  is  a  regular  and  interested  member  of 
Mr.  Rose's  class  in  Sunday-school.  Daisy 
belongs  to  the  infant-school,  and  is  under 
Mrs.  Walpole's  excellent  care.  Mr.  Greene 
has  hired  a  pew  and  comes  to  church  oftener 
than  he  did. 

Chrismus  and  Flora  were  married  on  New 
Year's  day.  In  their  marriage  certificate, 
Chrismus  touched  the  pen  which  wrote  his 
name,  "  Chrismus  Greene  King."  They  live 
at  the  Greene's  for  the  present,  but  are  look- 
ing out  for  a  local  investment  for  their  five 
hundred  dollars.  They  are  at  church,  of 
course,  every  Sunday  ;  they  walk  down,  usu- 
ally. Mother  Gray  entertains  them  on  Sun- 
day noon,  and  often  reminds  them  of  their 
meeting  at  her  kitchen-door. 


104  CONTRABAND  CHRISTMAS. 

"  One  said  *  Flo' ! '  an' t'  other  said  '  Chris- 
mus ! '  an'  then  you  both  went  to  cryin'  as 
hard  as  you  could  cry." 

"  Bress  de  Lord!  Dat  was  de  merries' 
Chris' mas  we  eber  had  !    Was  n't  it,  Flo'  ?  " 


THB  END. 


